DSWD Field Office (FO) 1 continuously provides family food packs (FFPs) to Local Government Units (LGUs) that need relief supply augmentation to be directly distributed to individuals and families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Ineng.

As of the latest data of Disaster Response Management Division, the Department has already augmented 1,000 FFPs on 25 August 2019 while today, 27 August 2019, there are 3,000 pre-positioned FFPs that will be distributed to the storm-affected individuals in various municipalities in Ilocos Norte. Further, 5,000 FFPs, in staggered deliveries, are expected to be transported from the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau to Ilocos Norte.

To evaluate the extent of the massive floods that submerged some houses caused by the storm and to assess the situation of the people in Ilocos Norte, DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista personally visited the storm-affected individuals particularly in Brgy. Gabu, Laoag City. During the visit, the Secretary talked with some barangay officials in Laoag City wherein additional assistance were requested and immediately provided to the affected barangays. Further, Secretary Bautista also had a meeting with Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew J. Marcos Manotoc and Office of the Civil Defense 1 Director Melchito Castro relative to the extent of the damage caused by the typhoon. Per report, there are 22 totally- and 44 partially-damaged houses in the Province of Ilocos Norte.

To maintain stockpile of relief goods, volunteers have flocked to DSWD FO 1 Regional Warehouse to help in the repacking of FFPs that will be immediately distributed to affected households. “Ang pagiging volunteer ay mahalaga para matulungan natin ang ating mga kababayan na nasalanta ng Bagyong Ineng. Ang pagboboluntaryo ay tatak ng isang tunay na Pilipino (Being a volunteer is important in order to help our countrymen who were affected by Typhoon Ineng. Becoming a volunteer is a sign of a true Filipino),” said Helen Tailan, a volunteer from Caba, La Union.

DSWD FO 1 regional warehouse maintains a standby stockpile of 30,000 FFPs for any disaster. Further, the four satellite warehouses in the Region ensures that the minimum stockpiles are readily available to accommodate the requests of all LGUs and serve all disaster affected families. 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, SSocial Marketing Unit