DSWD assures ‘Florita’ victims of sufficient food packs

Several motorists in San Felipe, Zambales, were left with no choice but to push their vehicles amidst gutter-deep flood water brought by Florita PH. | PHOTO: Zambales for the People/Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — A sufficient supply of food packs is ready for distribution to victims of Severe Tropical Storm Florita, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Tuesday.

Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo said more than 100,000 food boxes are on standby in Regions 1 and 2 affected by the storm.

“We have sufficient [emergency food supply]. We have over 100,000 food boxes na naka-standby sa amin sa (available in) Regions 1 and 2,” Tulfo said during a press briefing in Malacañang.

“In Region 1, Ilocos Region, meron kaming P20 million to 25 million na AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation) naka-ready din po. Nakabantay ho kami, evacuation sites naka-ready na rin with the help of local government units,” he added.

(In Region 1, Ilocos Region, we have P20 million to 25 million AICS ready [for the typhoon victims]. We are monitoring [the situation], evacuation sites are also prepared with the help of local government units.)

Tulfo said they are keeping a careful eye on the situation in the country’s north, which is taking the brunt of the storm’s destruction.

He added that all regional offices of the DSWD in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 1, Region 2, and Region 3 are also on standby in case of emergency.

READ: NDRRMC: More than 500 people evacuated due to ‘Florita’

As of 2 p.m., Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 is raised over the northern portion of Ilocos Norte; Apayao; the southern portion of Babuyan Islands; mainland Cagayan; and the northeastern part of Isabela.

Cagayan’s Alcala town was in the path of the storm. Sustained winds reached 110 kph near the center of the storm, with gusts of up to 185 kph near the edge.

JMS/abc