The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that additional relief goods have already been delivered to Batanes following the entry of Super Typhoon Inday into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). 

“We have also completed the delivery of additional goods to Batanes because we saw that it is one of the areas that will be affected,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said.

“As I mentioned, in Batanes, our full capacity there is more than 20,000 [family food packs]. In fact, there are already more than 23,000 [family food packs] in Batanes,” she added.

The agency spokesperson also revealed that more than 105,000 family food packs have been prepositioned in warehouses across the Ilocos Region, while more than 217,000 family food packs have been prepositioned in Cagayan Valley.

Dumlao noted that the DSWD has also prepositioned ready-to-eat food boxes at major ports across the country, along with non-food items for immediate distribution if needed.

“In simple terms, the DSWD's goods or relief supplies are already on the ground and ready for distribution in case the local government units (LGUs) need additional assistance,” the DSWD official pointed out.

Meanwhile, personnel of Sabtang Police Station in coordination with Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) participated in pre-positioning of Family Food Packs (FFPs) in Brgy. Chavayan and Brgy. Savidug, Sabtang, Batanes, on Wednesday morning around 8:00 AM, as preparation for the Super Typhoon Inday.

"The activity aimed to ensure the immediate availability of relief goods for residents who may be affected by the typhoon, facilitate the timely distribution of assistance to vulnerable communities, and strengthen the municipality's disaster preparedness and emergency response capability," the Sabtang Municipal Police Station said in its social media update.