The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Disaster Response Command Center on Sunday announced a blue alert status as it monitors a new tropical cyclone (international name Saudel), which may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Monday at the earliest.
The alert status was lowered after the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council downgraded from red (highest) to blue (standby) on Thursday night, DSWD-Disaster Response and Management Group Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a news release.
The DSWD blue alert means watching weather tracks and local conditions closely; relief goods and family food packs (FFPs) are ready in warehouses; and teams talk with local leaders to plan quick aid if needed.
“Bagamat may pagbaba sa alert status, patuloy pa rin ang pagbabantay at koordinasyon ng DSWD sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno at mga lokal na pamahalaan na nangangailangan ng tulong dahil sa mga nagdaang bagyo at enhanced habagat. Handa rin ang DSWD na tumugon para sa anumang posibleng epekto ng bagong weather disturbance na nasa labas ng PAR (While there is lowering in alert status, the monitoring and coordination by the DSWD with various government agencies and local governments in need of assistance because of the previous typhoons and enhanced southwest monsoon continues. The DSWD is also ready to address any possible effects of the new weather disturbance which is still outside PAR),” Dumlao, also the DSWD spokesperson, said.
As of Saturday, the DSWD has an inventory of more than 3.7 million boxes of FFPs in strategic hubs, spokes and last-mile areas nationwide.
Included in the stockpiles are over 369,000 boxes of FFPs available at the Luzon Disaster Resource Center in Pasay City; more than 512,000 boxes of FFPs in the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue City; and, over 174,000 boxes of FFPs at the Mindanao Disaster Resource Center in Butuan City, which is under the supervision of DSWD Field Office Caraga.
The DSWD also has standby funds amounting of at least PHP667 million.
“Alinsunod as utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., tinitiyak namin na madaling mai-dedeploy ang mga kinakailangang logistical requirements ng mga DSWD field offices sa mga lugar na maaapektuhan ng masamang panahon. Nakahanda ring kumilos ang aming mga response team anumang oras (In line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we ensure quick deployment of the necessary logistical requirements of DSWD field offices to areas that would be affected by the bad weather. Our response teams are also ready to move at any time),” Dumlao said.
She reminded the public to likewise remain prepared and vigilant for possible flooding and landslides. (PNA)
