Palace: Funds, food packs on standby in response to ‘Kiko,’ ‘Jolina’

(FILE) SEPTEMBER 08, 2021. Alabang-Zapote Road gets flooded due to rain from severe storm Jolina. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday assured that over P486 million in funds and thousands of food packs are already on standby as the country braces for Typhoon Kiko with some areas still being affected by Tropical Storm Jolina.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace is “closely monitoring” developments of the operations for Tropical Storm Jolina and preparations for Typhoon Kiko.

“The DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development] has P442.9-M Quick Response Fund at its Central Office; P11.2-M available at its Field Offices in Mimaropa, Region 5, Region 6 and Region 8 and P32.5-M in other DSWD Field Offices which may support the relief needs of displaced families,” Roque said.

“In addition, there are 12,535 Family Food Packs available in Disaster Response Centers,” he added.

Citing information from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Roque said restoring power and communication lines and clearing roads are already ongoing in the affected areas.

“We ask the public to continue to remain alert and vigilant, take precautionary measures, observe minimum public health standards, and cooperate with their respective local authorities in case of an evacuation,” Roque said.

The state weather bureau said Typhoon Kiko may turn into a super typhoon in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jolina which was last spotted in Dagupan, Pangasinan continues to move farther away from the country and is seen to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility this Thursday.

/MUF