Posted on by Janine Joy Altero

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 1, through the support of its volunteers, conducts round the clock repacking and distribution of family food packs (FFPs) to monsoon rain affected victims in the region. Since 21 July 2018, a total of PhP13,849,087.00 food and non-food items have been handed to affected individuals and families in all provinces of Region I.

One DSWD FFP consists of 6 kilos of rice, 6 sachets of coffee, 4 cans of sardines, and 4 cans of corned beef which are either packed in a box (from DSWD National Response and Logistics Management Service or NRLMS) or a plastic bag with printed DSWD (from DSWD Field Office). Likewise, one sleeping kit consists of a blanket, plastic mat, mosquito net, and malong-like wrap around tube cloth while one family/hygiene kit consists of a bath towel, undergarments, shorts, sandos, shirts, and slippers.

Bayanihan. Community volunteers assist in the distribution of FFPs at Dagupan City and help in the repacking of FFPs at DSWD Satellite Warehouse in Santa Barbara, Pangasinan.

“The process of requesting (family food packs) is very fast. Our budget cannot give the support it needs to cater almost 100,000 people in the municipality. What you (DSWD) have given us is very helpful. It assures us na lahat ng tao na apektado ay mabibigyan ng relief, tulong, at suporta (It assures us that all affected are given relief goods, help and support),” said Mayor Joseph Arman Bauzon of Calasiao, Pangasinan who also assisted in the distribution of family food packs. The said municipality, along with San Carlos City and Dagupan City, is still flooded that residents even use kuligligs to haul their FFPs.

Disaster Response Management Division Chief Maricel S. Caleja reiterated that selling and buying for consumption or resale of the Department’s FFPs and other relief supplies that are intended for distribution to disaster victims are prohibited as stated under Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. Ms. Caleja also assures the recipients that all FFPs are all new and safe for human consumption, and that family/hygiene and sleeping kits are procured brand new. (by: Janine Joy B. Altero, Social Marketing Officer, Sustainable Livelihood Program)