The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) appeals to the public to continue monitoring and preparing for Typhoon Chedeng despite weather reports indicating that it has weakened.

“We ask the public, especially, those in areas along the typhoon path to continue preparing.  Even if it is not a super typhoon, ‘Chedeng’ is still expected to cause damage due to heavy rains and wind,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said.

In a press briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) this morning, it was reported that Typhoon Chedeng can cause massive floods and damages to the agriculture and infrastructure sectors.

“It is highly advisable that the people act with extreme caution, especially in areas that are expected to be hardest-hit like the provinces of Isabela and Aurora,” Sec. Soliman added.

DSWD disaster teams along the typhoon path remain on 24/7 duty to assist local government units (LGUs) implement pre-emptive evacuation plans.

The prepositioning of goods to cities and municipalities continues, especially in coastal and hard-to-reach areas. This is part of the strengthened government initiatives for any calamity or disaster that may hit the country.

In Ilocos Region, DSWD-Field Office I prepositioned around 28,000 family food packs to the different cities/municipalities in the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte.

In Cagayan Valley, DSWD-Field Office II prepositioned 14,215 food packs to Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya.  It also sent relief goods for stockpiling to coastal municipalities of Maconacon, Divilican, and Palanan in Isabela.

In Central Luzon, DSWD-Field Office III prepositioned 3,180 family food packs to cities/municipalities of Aurora and Pampanga.

In Southern Luzon, DSWD-Field Office IV-A provided a total of 4,000 food packs for the cities/municipalities of Laguna, Rizal, and Batangas.

The DSWD-Field Office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) prepositioned 2,000 food packs each to Kalinga and Abra, while DSWD-Field Office V provided 1,200 food packs to Catanduanes.

Other DSWD-Field Offices are also on standby and ready to provide manpower and resource augmentation to areas that will be affected. Volunteers have already been tapped and are ready for deployment.  ###