DSWD has enough funds to support disaster relief ops

RELIEF ASSISTANCE. Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista, along with DSWD-Bicol director Arnel Garcia, visit victims of Typhoon Rolly in Barangay Francia, Virac, Catanduanes on Wednesday. They also led the distribution of family food packs in the area. (DSWD Bicol Region photo via PNA)

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has adequate financial resources to shoulder the cost of relief assistance in areas hit by Super Typhoon Rolly, an official said on Wednesday.

“We have more than PHP866 million, maaari din mag-request ang DSWD to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for additional funding for our quick response fund (QRF),” DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said during a #LagingHanda press briefing.

At present, the DSWD has P239.7 million QRF.

It is part of the PH281.2 million fund of the DSWD’s central and field offices.

“QRFs are money that can be easily downloaded by a field office that needs immediate resources,” he explained in Filipino.

Bautista, who went to Catanduanes to personally extend assistance and oversee disaster operations, said the agency has a stockpile of 271,682 family food packs (FFPs) worth PHP124.1 million.

He added that other food items ready to be packed amounted to PHP185.7 million, while some PHP247 million worth of non-food items such as sanitary kits, plastic mats, and tents are available.

Even before “Rolly” devastated some areas in Luzon, the DSWD said it has already made its augmentation of resources to local government units (LGUs) to prepare for the typhoon season.

“We have always heeded the warnings of PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration),” he said.

As of Nov. 4, the agency has poured some PHP8.3 million assistance to affected families.

DSWD’S Disaster Response Management Bureau said in its updated bulletin that there are 207,518 families affected by the calamity.

Of this number, 48,744 families are staying in 1,874 evacuation centers.

Bautista also assured that they are closely monitoring the evacuation sites for possible transmission of the coronavirus.

Friendly and safe spaces for women and children are also created inside the camps to ensure their comfort and privacy, Bautista added.