Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Monday (September 2) that the agency is more than ready and has enough family food packs (FFPs) to assist families and individuals affected by Tropical Storm Enteng compounded by the southwest monsoon or the habagat.

“Naka-replenish na tayo pero sa dating sa akin nitong Enteng, dahil magli-linger siya ng ilang araw, malamang mauubos na natin ‘yung na-replenish natin. Pero ganoon talaga, we’ll have to keep on replenishing kasi alam natin Typhoon season ngayon. But itong sa Enteng, we’re more than ready. In fact, may mga nakukuha na tayo na request at tuloy-tuloy tayong mag-deploy,” the DSWD chief said in an interview over PTV’s Punto Asintado Reload with Congressman Erwin Tulfo and veteran broadcaster Niña Corpuz.

Secretary Gatchalian said the agency is currently distributing around 30,000 boxes of FFPs in the Bicol Region, where there are 1,364 families or 4,124 individuals who have been affected by the weather disturbance based on the September 2 Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) report.

“Nagdispatch na tayo ng FFPs sa Camarines Sur. Nag-release na tayo ng kulang-kulang 30,000 na family food packs. Meron rin tayong ongoing operation sa Albay. ‘Yung dalawang areas na ‘yun seem to be very flooded or very affected,” the DSWD chief pointed out.

The DSWD Field Office-5 (Bicol) also distributed hot meals from the agency’s FFPs to some 504 evacuees taking temporary shelter at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Building in Barangay Caratagan in Pio Duran town, Albay province.

A total of 146 internally displaced families (IDFs) in Barangays Lerma and Triangulo in Naga City were also provided with relief items.

The FO in Bicol region also provided hot meals to 618 stranded passengers at the different ports in the provinces of Masbate, Sorsogon, and Albay.

At the National Capital Region (NCR), Secretary Gatchalian assured the agency is closely monitoring the situation in Marikina as the water level rose to its second alarm on Monday morning due to heavy rains brought by the tropical storm and the habagat.

According to Secretary Gatchalian, the DSWD is planning to deploy 10,000 boxes of FFPs to assist the initial evacuees in Marikina.

“So alam natin na kapag lumagpas na siya ng certain alert level, may evacuation na. So, we’re already planning to deploy some relief goods sa mga initial na evacuees sa Marikina, around 10,000 FFPs,” Secretary Gatchalian said. #

Tagalog Version

We are more than ready for ‘Enteng’ – DSWD chief

Inihayag ni Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian nakahanda ang ahensya na asistehan at bigyan ng tulong ang mga pamilyang naapektuhan ng bagyong Enteng na sinamahan pa ng Habagat.

Gayundin, tiniyak ng DSWD Secretary na sapat at hindi magkukulang ang mga inihandang family food packs ( FFPs) na nakalaan para sa mga affected families and individuals.

“Naka-replenish na tayo pero sa dating sa akin nitong Enteng, dahil magli-linger siya ng ilang araw, malamang mauubos na natin ‘yung na-replenish natin. Pero ganoon talaga, we’ll have to keep on replenishing kasi alam natin Typhoon season ngayon. But itong sa Enteng, we’re more than ready. In fact, may mga nakukuha na tayo na request at tuloy-tuloy tayong mag-deploy,” sabi ni DSWD chief sa panayam sa PTV Punto Asintado Reload ni Congressman Erwin Tulfo at veteran broadcaster Niña Corpuz.

Sabi ng Kalihim, walang patid ang paga-abot ng tulong ng ahensya kung saan nakapagdistribute na ito ng halos 30,000 kahon ng FFPs sa Bicol Region. Umabot na sa 1,364 pamilya o 4,124 indibidwal ang naitalang apektado ng masamang panahon. Ito ay base na rin sa report ng Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) ngayong araw ( Sept.2)

“Nagdispatch na tayo ng FFPs sa Camarines Sur. Nag-release na tayo ng kulang-kulang 30,000 na family food packs. Meron rin tayong ongoing operation sa Albay. ‘Yung dalawang areas na ‘yun seem to be very flooded or very affected,” sabi pa ng DSWD chief.

Nakapag-distribute na ang DSWD Field Office-5 (Bicol) ng hot meals para sa may 504 evacuees na pansamantalang nanunuluyan sa Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Building sa Barangay Caratagan, Pio Duran, Albay.

Nabigyan din ng relief items ang halos 146 internally displaced families (IDFs) sa Barangay Lerma at Triangulo sa Naga City.

Namigay din ang FO sa Bicol region ng mga hot meals para sa 618 stranded passengers na nasa ibat ibang port sa mga lalawigan ng Masbate, Sorsogon, at Albay.

Sa National Capital Region (NCR)naman, tiniyak ni Secretary Gatchalian na patuloy ang ginagawang monitoring ng ahensya sa sitwasyon sa Marikina kung saan patuloy din ang pagtaas ng water level nito bunga na rin ng malalakas na buhos ng ulan.

Ayon sa Kalihim, nakatakdang magdeploy ng 10,000 boxes ng FFPs upang asistehan ang mga evacuees sa Marikina.

“So alam natin na kapag lumagpas na siya ng certain alert level, may evacuation na. So, we’re already planning to deploy some relief goods sa mga initial na evacuees sa Marikina, around 10,000 FFPs,” sabi ni Secretary Gatchalian.#