Disaster response fund enough, relief ops ongoing: DSWD

FILE: Kasalukuyang inaayos ang 1,200 Family Food Packs na preparatory goods na dadalhin sa mga lugar na naapektuhan ng bagyong Ulysses. (Photo: Dswd Region II/Facebook)

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has sufficient funds allocated for providing relief assistance to Filipinos hit by the onslaught of series of typhoons in the country, an official said Friday.

In a virtual press briefing, DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje said the agency has total “stockpile or standby funds” amounting to PHP1.4 billion.

Paje said about PHP800 million of it, will be allocated for the use of the DSWD central office and its field offices.

More than 278,000 family food packs are currently prepositioned in various typhoon-affected areas, he added.

Paje said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already replenished the DSWD’s quick response fund amounting to PHP600 million which can be used by the department to aid more typhoon-hit families.

“Kung kaya’t ang ahensya po ay masasabi nating nakahanda sa pagtulong sa mga naapektuhan nitong nakaraang bagyo (We can say that the agency is prompt to assist those who have been affected by the past typhoon onslaught),” he said.

On the other hand, Paje said the social welfare department is also ensuring that those evacuees are provided with health-protective gears, so that, they would also be protected against the risks of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) while staying at the evacuation centers.

He added that the agency in coordination with the local government units (LGUs) also responds to the minimum health standards imposed to combat the dreaded Covid-19.

Paje said the government also monitors the health status of the evacuees to prevent the Covid-19 transmission within the evacuation sites.

He then urged the public to continue observing health protocols amid experiencing calamity.

Meanwhile, Paje said the DSWD has started providing assistance to the LGUs affected by Typhoon Ulysses.

Paje added there is also ongoing assistance provided for the residents affected by Super Typhoon Rolly.

Apart from family food packs, Paje said the DSWD has already provided the evacuees with financial assistance.

The DSWD also conducts psychosocial interventions for those typhoon-hit families that are currently staying at the evacuation centers, to address the trauma they got following the typhoon’s onslaught, Paje added.

Paje said the DSWD has already deployed several augmentation teams in all typhoon-affected areas to assist in the whole-of-government relief operations.