The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has deployed 133,000 family food packs to areas hit by Tropical Storm Enteng.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian reported to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that the agency is processing another 100,000 family food packs.

“Mr. President, as reported to you the other night, we have already deployed 133,000 family food packs. And we are currently processing another 100,000, ‘yung mga bago na dumating. But you’re right, Mr. President, if you look at the breakdown of where we sent the food packs, it followed the path of the storm,” Gatchalian told the President during the situation briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“Of course, NCR (National Capital Region), because nandito ‘yung flooded areas all the time. But after NCR, it was Region V where the storm came closest at its height, 24,000; and then Region III, 21,000; CALABARZON, 12,000,” Gatchalian added.

Gatchalian informed the President that these figures are augmentation efforts to support local government initiatives. He added that the total number of family food packs for Enteng victims could reach 250,000.

According to Gatchalian, the DSWD also has to monitor two looming storms for stockpiling needs.

Before Enteng struck, the DSWD had restored its national stockpile to 1.7 million family food packs spread across the country, Gatchalian said.

“So now we’re doing both response and stockpiling kasi we’ll be using up our stockpile in those said regions. But we’re confident mahahabol naman namin ‘yun. As we speak right now, we’re deploying, packing, and stockpiling,” he said.

In a statement on Tuesday, President Marcos said that over PhP16 million in humanitarian aid has been deployed to the hardest-hit areas.

A PhP65.5 million standby fund and PhP2.6 billion in stockpiles are ready for swift distribution to typhoon victims. PND