DSWD prepares for possible inslaught of TD ‘Samuel’

Source: Pagasa / DOST

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Tuesday that it is now preparing contingency measures in the event that Tropical Depression “Samuel” brings damage in the country.

Newly appointed DSWD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Glenda Relova said that different teams from DSWD around the country are already monitoring weather bulletins regarding “Samuel.”

“Our Disaster Response and Management Bureau is closely monitoring disaster reports from affected DSWD-FOs for request, for resource augmentation or any technical assistance,” she said in a press release.

“All Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Teams are now on standby for logistics and workforce augmentation,” she added.

According to Relova, a total of 374,104 family food packs worth P137 million and food and non-food items worth P879 million are now being prepared by the agency.

In addition, standby food worth P1.121 billion is currently available at the Central and Field Offices of DSWD. These, Relova said, could be “immediately tapped for quick response operations.”

“We urge citizens to continue to prepare and follow orders from concerned offices to prevent any loss of lives before, during, and after the onslaught of ‘Samuel,’” Relova said.

As of 1 p.m., “Samuel” continue to move closer in the Samar-Leyte-Dinagat area packing maximum sustained winds and gustiness of 55 and 65 kilometers per hour, respectively. /jpv

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