(Photo by: DSWD SWAD Team – Eastern Pangasinan) Municipal Mayor Susan P. Casareno of Rosales, Pangasinan (in blue shirt beside the woman in red vest) has distributed a family food pack to Ms. Tessie Macaraeg (center, holding a family food pack)

Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 1 (DSWD FO 1) has released a total amount of PhP14,601,751 of relief supplies for families in the municipalities and cities throughout Region 1 affected by Typhoon Ompong.

11,560 family food packs (FFPs) composed of 6 kilos of rice, 4 cans of sardines, 4 cans of corned beef, and 6 sachets of coffee were immediately distributed to affected families and individuals. Further, 6,796 non-food items comprised of sleeping kits, hygiene kits, and family kits were also distributed.

“Dakkel ti panagyaman mi ti DSWD datoy a tulong nga inted da” (We are very grateful to DSWD for the help they have given to us) shared by 65-year old Tessie Macaraeg from Brgy. Camangaan, Rosales, Pangasinan when she received the FFP.

Municipal Mayor Susan P. Casareno of Rosales, Pangasinan lauds DSWD FO 1 for the immediate delivery of 1,500 FFP augmentation in their municipality. Prior to the delivery of the said FFPs, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Rosales has quickly responded to the food and non-food requirements of the typhoon victims.

DSWD Field Office 1 Regional Warehouse maintains a standby stockpile of 30,000 FFPs for any disaster. Further, the 11 satellite warehouses in the Region ensures that the minimum stockpiles are readily available to accommodate the requests of all LGUs. Trading or resale of relief supplies that are intended for distribution to disaster victims is prohibited by Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. (by: Darwin T. Chan, PDO III)