President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday ordered the establishment of additional disaster response centers to enhance the government’s capacity to protect Filipino families during calamities and emergencies.

“Ipinag-utos din ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na magtayo ng maraming disaster response centers upang masigurado ang kaligtasan ng mga kababayang maaapektuhan ng sama ng panahon,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

The President personally inspected the fully automated machines at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City, which are used to efficiently pack relief supplies for distribution by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during calamities and disasters.

The President visited the NROC as the government prepares for the potential impact of Tropical Storm Crising, which could make landfall over mainland Cagayan or the Babuyan Islands Friday afternoon or evening.

President Marcos was scheduled to inspect the North-South Commuter Railway – Balagtas station in Bulacan. But the President cancelled it and visited the NROC instead.

Meanwhile, the DSWD reported the availability of PhP2.9 billion in standby funds, a stockpile of three million food packs, 28,107 boxes of ready-to-eat food, and 334,791 non-food items.

The agency has been preparing three million boxes of family food packs in 934 storage hubs throughout the country.

Packing operations continue in NROC Pasay City and the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Cebu. | PND