With Tropical Storm Hagupit forecasted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tomorrow,  the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  is on alert status to prepare for needed relief supplies to augment resources of local government units to be affected by the weather disturbance.

DSWD has prepositioned 270,574 family food packs worth P18 million.  Other food and non-food items amounting to more than P270 million are also on standby in the regional offices.

Moreover, as part of the Department’s strengthened precautionary measure, all DSWD-Field Offices already have standby funds amounting  to  P18,000,711.68 for the purchase of emergency relief supplies.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that the Department has adequate stockpile of commodities and standby funds for relief operations at the national and regional levels.

She also said that the preparation being undertaken is part of the Department’s strengthened disaster response program, especially that ‘Hagupit’ is forecasted to be slow and strong.

The regional Quick Response Teams have also been activated and have started to coordinate with local government units for steps to be taken like pre-emptive evacuation, if necessary.

According to PAGASA, ‘Hagupit’ is expected to make landfall in Eastern Visayas and will cut across Central and Western Visayas.