DSWD: Enough resources for 'Enteng' and other relief ops

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has adequate supply of family food packs (FFPs) and other relief items for augmentation to local government units (LGUs) affected by Severe Tropical Storm Enteng and future weather disturbances, a senior DSWD official assured on Thursday.

"Sufficient ang resources ng DSWD. 'Yung national stockpile (FFPs) natin ay nasa mahigit 1.7 million pa po na (Our national stockpile of FFPs is at more than 1.7 million that are) strategically located or distributed across the country," Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DMRG) Irene Dumlao told reporters during the Thursday Media Forum at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.

Dumlao said the DSWD is also producing boxes of FFPs daily in the agency's main hubs, including the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City, to ensure the sufficient supply of FFPs in preparation for future weather disturbances and other disaster.

"Even during our Carina response, habang tayo ay nagre-respond, tayo rin po ay nagre-repack para naman sa ating stockpile (while we are responding, we are also repacking for our stockpile)," she said.

Dumlao said the agency is constantly checking on its current stockpiles through its warehouse inventory tool in preparation for the several tropical cyclones that could develop within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in the next two weeks as reported by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Through the warehouse inventory tool, she said they are updated on the existing capacity of the DSWD's "spokes and last miles."

"So, we are informed if we need to replenish," the DSWD spokesperson said.

As part of their preparations, Dumlao said the agency is in close coordination with other government agencies, particularly PAGASA, to know the possible areas that may be affected by incoming weather disturbances.

She said the DSWD has also requested for the replenishment of its Quick Response Funds (QRF) from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) following the onslaught of Typhoon Carina and Enteng.

"Clearly provided po sa mga umiiral nating polisiya na once the QRF of the agency has already reached the 50 percent threshold, maaari na po tayong mag-request for replenishment. Batay po sa ating pakikipag-ugnayan with DBM, which we are very grateful to them dahil agad nilang inaksyunan ang ating request na P875 million (It's clearly provided under existing policy that once the QRF of an agency has already reached the 50 percent threshold, we can already request for replenishment from the DBM. Based on our coordination with the DBM, which we are very grateful to them, they have immediately acted on our request for P875 million)," Dumlao said.

Based on the DRMG's current inventory, the DSWD has more than P134 million available standby funds. (PNA)