The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday said it has prepositioned more than 1 million family food packs (FFPs) in areas that may be affected by Tropical Depression Verbena.

“Ang DSWD po ay may nakahandang 1,058,580 FFPs na naka-preposition sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa. Bukod dito ay tuloy-tuloy rin ang repacking operations sa Luzon Disaster Resource Center (LDRC) at Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) para ma-replenish natin ang mga naipamahaging food packs sa mga nagdaang bagyo,” said Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG).

(“The DSWD has 1,058,580 FFPs prepositioned across the country. In addition, repacking operations continue at the Luzon and Visayas Disaster Resource Centers to replenish the food packs distributed during previous storms.”)

Dumlao, who also serves as the DSWD spokesperson, said the Department’s field offices in Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and CARAGA are coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to ensure adequate relief items are prepositioned in areas that may be affected by the weather disturbance.

“As directed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, patuloy ang aming communication sa mga local chief executives (LCEs) para masigurado na mayroong food and non-food items na present sa kani-kanilang mga lugar bago pa man dumating ang bagyo. Ito ay alinsunod na rin sa utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na siguraduhin na walang magugutom na pamilya sa gitna ng mga sakuna,” Dumlao said.

(“As directed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, we continue our communication with local chief executives to ensure that food and non-food items are available in their areas before the storm arrives. This is also in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure that no family goes hungry amid disasters.”)

Aside from relief items, the DSWD’s specialized equipment is on standby for rapid deployment. These logistical resources include a mobile command center (MCC) for on-site coordination, a mobile kitchen capable of providing hot meals to evacuees, water trucks to address immediate water supply gaps, and water treatment units to ensure access to safe, potable water.

“Sa atin pong mga kababayan, muli po kaming nagpapaalala na maging alerto at palaging makinig sa inyo pong mga LGUs upang mapanatili ang kaligtasan ninyo at ng inyong mga pamilya sa oras ng sakuna,” Dumlao reminded the public.

(“To our fellow citizens, we again remind you to remain alert and always listen to your LGUs to keep you and your families safe during disasters.”)