DSWD aid for #TinoPH victims reaches P69.45 Million

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that its humanitarian assistance to communities in Visayas and Mindanao affected by Typhoon #TinoPH has already reached more than P69.45 million.

Assistant Secretary Dumlao said in an interview that the agency continues to provide early aid to residents in heavily affected areas.

Through its two parallel supply chain strategies—which involve both local government units and private partners in the prepositioning of relief items—DSWD has prepared 123,000 family food packs under the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) program for distribution to displaced families.

“The Department of Social Welfare and Development is truly preparing for all calamities because we are aware that we are highly vulnerable to various hazards. [Because of this] we are implementing the Buong Bansa Handa program, where we have created two parallel supply chains: the government sector-driven, and the second one is the private sector-driven,” Asec. Dumlao said in Filipino.

He also explained that ready-to-eat food packs are being delivered in areas where setting up a mobile kitchen is not possible due to the extent of the damage or ongoing severe weather conditions.

A mobile kitchen has already been deployed at Matnog Port in Sorsogon, providing hot meals to hundreds of locally stranded individuals.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is validating the official death toll and coordinating support for bereaved families.

“DSWD is here to provide the necessary support. We have Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), particularly burial assistance. Our field offices are also reaching out to the (bereaved) families to assist them,” Asec. Dumlao added.

While relief operations for Typhoon Tino continue, the agency is also closely monitoring Tropical Cyclone Uwan, which may intensify into a super typhoon as it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility this weekend.

The DSWD currently maintains over P2.87 billion in standby funds, including food and non-food stockpiles, across its regional field offices for emergency response readiness.