Palace: P1.1B fund, over 200,000 food packs available for Tropical Storm Dante aid

WEATHER DISTURBANCE Floodwaters rise in the village of Los Angeles in Butuan City as Tropical Storm “Dante” (international name: Choi-wan) dumps heavy rain in Agusan del Norte province on Monday and Tuesday. —ERWIN M. MASCARIÑAS

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has a total standby fund of P1.1 billion, including P113-million worth of 222,382 food packs for families to be affected by Tropical Storm Dante, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government continues to monitor the developments of the storm as it continues to bring rains over several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.

He said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) had conducted a pre-disaster risk assessment for Dante on May 31 and issued necessary warnings and reminders to the local government units on the implementation of preparedness activities and pre-emptive evacuation of communities in hazard-prone areas.

Response groups of the Philippine Coast Guard have also been assisting in evacuation and rescue operations in flooded areas.

Clearing operations in severely affected areas have likewise been conducted, Roque said.

“The safety of everyone remains our main concern.  Let us therefore remain alert and vigilant, and cooperate with authorities while observing the minimum public health standards against COVID-19 during this storm,” Roque said in a statement.

According to the latest severe weather bulletin of the Pagasa, Dante is currently moving along the coastal waters of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

It is packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 90 kph, moving on a west northwestward track at a speed of 15 kph.

JE