With monsoon rains forecasted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA)  to affect Metro Manila, the Cordillera Region, Northern, Southern, and Central Luzon,  the Department of Social Welfare and Development  (DSWD) continues to closely coordinate with its Field Offices (FOs) in these areas to prepare for the needed relief supplies.

To date, concerned DSWD FOs  have prepositioned 334,673 family food packs.

They also have P76.6 million standby funds to purchase emergency relief supplies when needed.

According to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, the preparations being undertaken by the Department especially  in the last quarter of the year also serve as  precautionary measures in light of  climate change where  bigger and stronger disasters are occurring.

It could be recalled that in the previous years, the strongest typhoons struck the country during the last quarter.

The Secretary said that DSWD FOs have adequate stockpile of commodities and standby funds for relief operations.

Meanwhile, due to continuous heavy rains in Tulunan, North Cotabato, a flashflood incident occurred on September 6, 2014.

A total of 658 families or 3,290 persons were affected in 12 barangays namely: Brgy. Minapan, Bagumbayan, Tambac, Sibsib, La Esperanza, New Culasi, F.Cajelo, Maybula, Damawato, New Panay, Galidan, Bual according to the MSWDO of Tulunan.

The affected families were initially assisted by the LGU.

DSWD- FO XII is in close coordination with the MSWDO of Tulunan for further validation and assessment. ###