The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) immediately distributed ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes to locally stranded individuals (LSIs) at the different ports in Region 5 (Bicol Region) and Caraga due to cancellation of sea travel amid Tropical Storm “Ada”.
“Sa mga pagkakataon pong ito, ang mahalaga ay makapaghatid tayo ng pagkain na hindi na kailangan pang lutuin at maaaring ma-consume agad ng ating mga kababayan na apektado ng bagyo, lalo na yung mga naantala ang biyahe sa mga pantalan at walang kasiguraduhan kung kailan sila makakauwi o makakarating sa kanilang pupuntahan,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said on Friday (January 16).
In Bicol Region, Angels in Red Vests (ARVs) provided 300 RTEF boxes to stranded passengers at Matnog Port, 26 boxes at Castilla Port, and 25 boxes to LSIs at Pilar Port in Pilar, Sorsogon.
The ARVs in Caraga Region also distributed RTEF to 160 stranded passengers at the Lipata Port and Eva Macapagal Port in Surigao City.
According to Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, the food contents of an RTEF box were formulated with the help of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
“Ang lahat po ng pagkain na nasa loob ng RTEF ay maaaring makain agad at hindi na kailangan pang lutuin. Ang bawat kahon ay may laman na 5 cans of tuna paella, 3 packs of champorado, 2 packs of chicken arroz caldo, 2 high-protein bars, 1 sachet of complementary food, 1 can of chicken pastil, and 1 can of chicken giniling,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
The DRMG official pointed out that family food packs (FFPs) will also be provided to families and individuals that may be affected by the weather disturbance.
“Sa ngayon ay wala pa tayong naitatala na apektado, maliban sa mga stranded passengers. Sinisiguro ng DSWD ang kahandaan ng Departamento at may sapat kaming FFPs at non-food items na naka-preposition na sa Bicol Region at Caraga bago pa man tumama ang anumang bagyo,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
Based on the DSWD’s latest Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) report, the Department has a total of 2,848,980 FFPs prepositioned in the different hubs, spokes, and last mile facilities across the country.
Currently, the DSWD maintains more than Php3.5 billion worth of stockpiles and standby funds, ready for augmentation support to local government units’ (LGUs) needing assistance. (YADP)
