MANILA, (PNA) — As “Santi” developed into a typhoon Friday morning while approaching Baler-Aurora area, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon J. Soliman said that the DSWD has already prepositioned P156.13 million worth of emergency relief resources.
According to Soliman, the prepositioned emergency relief resources consists of P12 million standby fund, 37,858 family food packs worth P9.39 million, other food worth of P25 million and non-food items worth P109.71 million for augmentation to local government units (LGUs) that will be affected by the disaster.
“The prepositioning of relief resources is anchored on the plans of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to prepare for large-scale calamities,” said Secretary Soliman.
The DSWD is the chair of the Relief and Rehabilitation Cluster under the NDRRMC.
Soliman ordered the activation of all Quick Action Response Teams (QUARTs) in DSWD regional offices to closely monitor the situation and coordinate with the local social welfare and development offices for any augmentation assistance to affected families as part of its preparations.
The DSWD chief added that pre-emptive evacuation of families in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes will immediately be undertaken to minimize casualties that result in flooding, landslides, and mudslides.
Meanwhile, the DSWD in Region 5 reported that some 460 passengers bound for Catanduanes in Tabaco City Port in Albay were stranded.
The local government of Catanduanes already provided hot meals to said stranded passengers.