The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday launched their newest initiative to ensure food security during disasters and calamities through the ready-to-eat food (RTEF) packs at the SMX Convention Center, the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City.

Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the RTEF contains nutritious pre-cooked meals that will form part of the DSWD’s relief items which will be distributed to affected families within 24 to 48 hours after the onset of a disaster.

“The DSWD collaborated with the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DoST-FNRI) to create ready-to-eat meals to fill the critical gap when traditional cooking facilities or utensils are limited or unavailable in disaster affected areas,” Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said.

The DSWD spokesperson pointed out that the RTEF is a product of a year-long research by the DoST and its adopters.

Later in the afternoon, the DSWD will hold the national convention of Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) to be attended by stakeholders, including local chief executives.

The national convention will serve as a platform to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing and capacity building of Project LAWA and BINHI implementers at the local and national levels.

The project’s accomplishments for the year 2024 will also be presented at the convention which will be facilitated by Special Assistant to the Secretary for Special Projects Isabel Lanada.

The Project LAWA at BINHI is a risk resiliency initiative of the DSWD that aims to build climate and disaster-resilient communities by assisting them to construct water reservoirs to meet the challenges of the dry spell and the rainy season.

“This national convention marks the culmination of Project LAWA at BINHI’s 2024 implementation and the official launch of the RTEF to the nation,” Dumlao said.