The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has assured the public that it is fully prepared to respond to the needs of communities affected by the southwest monsoon, or Habagat.
According to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the agency to maintain year-round preparedness for disasters that may affect the country.
Gatchalian said the department does not wait for the rainy season before making preparations.
He explained that the DSWD has a dedicated cluster that works throughout the year to pack family food packs, prepare non-food relief items, and train local government units on camp management and preemptive evacuation procedures.
At present, the agency has stockpiled between 4.7 million and 4.8 million family food packs in more than 1,000 warehouses nationwide.
According to Gatchalian, this is the largest relief stockpile ever prepared by the DSWD in its history.
(PHOTO COURTESY: DSWD)
