In line with the directive of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian to optimize the agency’s preparedness for disasters and emergencies, the DSWD is eyeing to bring its prepositioned family food packs (FFPs) to 2.5 million boxes nationwide, and achieve another all-time-high record.

Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said that while the DSWD has already clinched a record-breaker with its 2.1 million food packs currently prepositioned across agency storage facilities nationwide, the Department aims to produce more to further stabilize its supply chain.

“Actually need pa nga natin na umakyat yan to 2.5 million (FFPs) dahil we’re taking advantage na walang masyadong mga major disasters na nangyayari or nakakaapekto sa ating bansa para makapaghanda ang DSWD,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the agency’s spokesperson, said during the DSWD Thursday Media Forum on January 16 held at the Central Office’s New Press Center in Quezon City.

Based on the latest report of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Management, Information Communication (DROMIC), a total of 142,280 boxes of FFPs are currently stored at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City and 135,168 FFPs are at the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City in Cebu province.

“Mino-monitor natin yang stockpiles and ongoing yung ating production sa National Resource and Operations Center at sa Visayas Disaster Resource Center para madagdagan pa yung mga food packs natin,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao told reporters.

Meanwhile, a total of 262,066 FFPs are available at warehouses managed by DSWD Field Office (FO) 6 – Western Visayas and FO-7 – Central Visayas and concerned LGU-managed facilities amid ongoing relief efforts for families still reeling from Mt. Kanlaon’s volcanic unrest.

As for other food and non-food items (FNIs), the NROC, VDRC, and DSWD Field Office warehouses have abundant supplies worth Php925 million.

The DSWD spokesperson further assured the public that the DSWD remains committed to ensuring the swift and seamless delivery of needed relief supplies even in times of unprecedented emergency or disaster.

“Gaya ng laging binabanggit ni Secretary Gatchalian, dapat maagap, mapagkalinga at sapat yung ating disaster response at any given time,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out.