DSWD-Bicol Readies Over 114,000 Food Packs for Weather Disturbances

Legazpi City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has prepared family food packs (FFPs) and other relief items in anticipation of potential impacts from a low-pressure area (LPA) and shear line, as monitored by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Marygizelle Mesa, DSWD-5 information officer, confirmed the agency’s readiness in an interview on Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD-Bicol has coordinated with Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils and local DRRMCs for potential response actions. The region has stockpiled 113,927 FFPs and 29,402 non-food relief items, with a PHP5-million standby fund available for additional necessities. DSWD-Bicol’s preparations include ensuring the availability of food and non-food items in regional and local government warehouses, evaluating evacuation centers for preemptive actions, and monitoring volcanic activities of Mt. Mayon and Mt. Bulusan to prepare for potential lahar flows, landslides, and floods. Mt. Mayon is currently under Alert Level 3, while Mt. Bulusan is at Alert Level 1. Each FFP is designed to sustain a family of five for two days. PAGASA’s bulletin indicated that the shear line would bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, the Bicol Region, and other parts of the country. A low-pressure area located east of Southeastern Mindanao, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, is also being monitored and will be named “Kabayan” upon entering the PAR.