DSWD assures sufficient aid for typhoon victims, 200K family food packs prepositioned

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured on Friday that sufficient relief assistance is available for residents affected by Typhoon #TinoPH in Cebu.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian gave the assurance during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to Tiltilon Elementary School in Barangay Cotcot, Liloan.

“Our supply is more than enough. We have a repacking center in Cebu. Repacking operations continue despite existing stockpiles,” Gatchalian said. 

Hundreds of families remain in evacuation centers across Liloan, one of the towns severely affected by the typhoon.

According to Gatchalian, the agency has already distributed 69,000 family food packs to various local government units (LGUs), including Cebu City, Mandaue, and Talisay, noting that areas that bore the brunt of the storm. 

The DSWD targets to distribute 200,000 family food packs to LGUs by Saturday.

“We assure all LGUs that we will continue to augment their relief operations to reach affected families,” he added.

Aside from food packs, the DSWD will provide cash assistance to households with partially or totally damaged homes, based on the results of ongoing assessments.

Gatchalian added that the DSWD maintains a nationwide stockpile of two million family food packs, prepositioned in strategic warehouses for rapid deployment in disaster situations.

Meanwhile, Marcos, visited various evacuation centers and inspected infrastructure damage in typhoon affected areas. 

In Talisay City, he visited the Talisay Sports Academy Center, which currently shelters 276 families, or 1,110 individuals.

The President also assessed damage to the Mananga Bridge, a key structure along the Cebu South Coastal Road. One lane of the bridge remains closed after sustaining cracks and flood-related damage.

The 1983-built bridge is considered a vital transport link connecting southern Cebu to other parts of the province.