Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian meets with Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua on Monday (November 18) at the Provincial Capitol to discuss the disaster response operations for families affected by Super Typhoon Pepito in the province.
After the meeting, Secretary Gatchalian, to be accompanied by DSWD Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe, will lead the distribution of relief assistance to Catanduanes residents.
DSWD chief assures delivery of add’l 45K food packs for Pepito-hit families in Catanduanes
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured the provincial government of Catanduanes on Monday (November 18) that the agency will provide additional family food packs (FFPs) for the families affected by Super Typhoon (ST) Pepito.
Secretary Gatchalian said the delivery of additional 45,000 FFPs, which are on top of the 10,000 prepositioned FFPs before ST Pepito made a landfall in the province, are expected to be completed by Saturday (November 23).
“On top of the 10,000 FFPs that were prepositioned before the storm, an additional 45,000 FFPs are on their way and are expected to arrive by Saturday. This assistance will continue as long as needed,” Secretary Gatchalian said during a situation briefing with Governor Joseph Cua and members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Bicol at the Provincial Capitol Building in Virac town.
The DSWD chief also conveyed the message of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, commending the preemptive evacuation efforts of the provincial and local governments of Catanduanes which contributed and resulted to zero casualty.
According to Secretary Gatchalian, the President said the entire national government agency machinery is behind the people of Catanduanes.
“The President is relaying that the entire national government agency machinery is behind you. He appreciates the preemptive evacuation dahil nag zero casualty. That is I think the most important and best news of this disaster,” the DSWD chief pointed out.
As instructed by President Marcos, the DSWD is now processing the provision of financial aid to the families whose houses were damaged.
“On top of that, Governor, we will wait for your listing.
The President also instructed me already to start processing financial assistance for those whose homes were damaged—severely and partially damaged,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Secretary Gatchalian added: “On the side of the DSWD, by hook or by crook, tapos kami by Saturday—all the 45,000 [FFPs]. But it does not end there. We’ll start moving to cash [distribution] hopefully by next week.”
After the situation briefing, the DSWD chief oversaw the distribution of FFPs to 459 families from Barangays Marilima, Batag, and Balite in Virac.
Secretary Gatchalian was accompanied by Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Diana Rose Cajipe and DSWD Field Office 5 – Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio.
