MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday called for volunteers to help the agency repack relief goods to be distributed to families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae), which left several dead and thousands displaced in its wake.
Currently, there are less than 100 volunteers repacking goods at the agency’s main warehouse in Pasay City. Many are members of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, barangay volunteers, Philippine Air Force, and private citizens.
Interested individuals or organizations may call Mr. Clifford at 0956-9226155 or Ms. Nica at 0915-2921875. They may also visit the headquarters located at Chapel Road, Barangay 195, Pasay City. The agency said they would do repacking operations every day until Nov. 11.
As of Sunday, the DSWD recorded at least 294,938 families or more than 1.2 million individuals affected by Paeng. Of these, some 39,111 families are currently taking temporary shelter in the 1,870 evacuation centers set up by their respective local governments.
Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo said the agency has stockpiles and standby funds amounting to P1.4 billion. Of this, P450 million are available at the central offices and its field officers.
P31 million worth of meds
The Department of Health (DOH), for its part, has mobilized P31 million worth of drugs and medicines, medical supplies and other commodities in response to Paeng.
In a statement, the DOH said a total of P31,063,736.14 had already been prepositioned in different regions, namely Regions 1, 2, Cordillera Administrative Region, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, Caraga, Bangsamoro Administrative Region in Muslim Mindanao and National Capital Region, in preparation for Paeng.
“Even before the storm made a landfall, the DOH has already prepared because we know that many people may be affected by it,” Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the officer in charge of the DOH, said in a statement.
In addition, the DOH said a total of P72,803,656.64 worth of commodities were ready for mobilization in the DOH central office warehouse.
“With the help of the local governments, we will ensure that health services are unhampered and that our healthcare facilities are always ready to provide healthcare services to patients seeking care,” assured Vergeire.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Leni Robredo’s volunteer Angat Buhay Foundation continues to call for donations for their relief efforts in areas stricken by Paeng.
Leni’s remote mobilization
In a statement via Facebook Live over the weekend, Robredo — who is still in the United States for her lecture circuit as a Harvard Hauser leader — said the foundation was monitoring Paeng’s progress and has already mobilized a team of volunteers across the country to help in relief operations. Currently, they have teamed up with the Tanging Yaman Foundation to accept donations, both cash and in-kind.
Cash donations may be sent to the Tanging Yaman Foundation Inc.’s Metrobank account (613-7-613-00046-8) with a screenshot or copy of the deposit slip to tangingyaman777@gmail.com.
In-kind donations may be brought to the Loyola Schools Covered Court in Ateneo de Manila University. Specifically, the foundation is asking for blankets, ready-to-eat food, rice, bottled water, sanitary kits, face masks, and alcohol.
They would accept in-kind donations until Nov. 12.