Aside from family food packs and ready-to-eat food, non-food items such as hygiene kits are part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) relief packages for those affected by typhoons and other emergencies.

Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group said the agency’s disaster relief program is designed to ensure families in evacuation centers have access not only to food but also to basic hygiene needs.

“DSWD distributes not only food but also non-food items. These include hygiene kits, family kits, and sleeping kits with varying contents. Clothes are included in the family kits, while soaps, toothbrushes, and toothpaste are in the hygiene kits,” Dumlao said during a news forum in Quezon City.

Dumlao, who also serves as the DSWD spokesperson, said the agency distributes supplies based on the essential needs of displaced families.

“DSWD is not just responsible for food and non-food items. We also lead in camp coordination and management, and in protecting internally displaced persons. We make sure the needs of every sector and every family member are addressed. That’s why we’ve prepositioned supplies across different parts of the country,” she explained.

Recognizing the critical need for clean water during disasters, Dumlao said the DSWD has invested in water trucks and water treatment systems.

“We’ve already deployed those to our field offices,” she said.

She added that the department also distributes water filtration kits to evacuees.

“All of these preparations were made because we’ve learned so much from past experience,” Dumlao said.