DSWD distributes over 1 million food packs to areas hit by Carina
MANILA, Philippines —The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it accomplished one of its largest releases of aid in a short period of time, having distributed at least 1,073,000 food packs to date.
In an ambush interview on Friday, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the aid is meant to cater to residents of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon who were affected by the recent onslaught of tropical cyclone Carina that enhanced the southwest monsoon.
They began distributing the aid on Wednesday.
“[We] already released 1,073,000 family food packs. That’s the largest release, one of the largest release[s] in such a short period of time. Marami dyan napunta sa Central Luzon at sa NCR at bahagya ng 4A (A lot of them went to Central Luzon and the NCR and a few to 4A),” Gatchalian told reporters.
“You can imagine, kaya namin mag-produce pero kung hindi nga namin madadala sa lugar, sayang rin ‘yung effort,” he added.
(You can imagine, we can produce, but if we can’t bring it to the place, it’s a waste of effort.)
According to Gatchalian, all pending requests for family food packs will be cleared by August 4.
“Lahat ng pending request sa amin maki-clear na namin by Sunday. So ibig sabihin, lahat ng pending request ng mga local government units for family food packs, tapos na. And let me note na some of them this week na lang dumating,” said Gatchalian.
(We will clear all pending requests by Sunday. So that means all the pending requests of the local government units for family food packs are done. And let me note that some of them just arrived this week.)
This, according to the cabinet official, is pursuant to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to distribute aid even after the “main disaster” to help Filipinos bounce back and recover.
Gatchalian was with Sen. Joel Villanueva in Pasay City on Friday as they oversaw the turnover ceremony and inspection of 11 DSWD delivery trucks and heavy-duty forklifts at the DSWD National Resource Operations Center.
The total project cost of Php 46.6 million was funded through Sen. Villanueva’s disaster response allocation.
In the same ambush interview, Villanueva emphasized the need to invest in projects that immediately help Filipinos.
He particularly took a swipe at the Department of Public Works and Highways’ proposed P23 billion budget for feasibility studies in 2025.
“Ang point ko dito (My point here is), we have to invest the right way. We have to invest in capacitating our manpower. Our manpower in the different agencies and departments of our government. Napakalaking karangalan po sa akin ang maging parte ng mga ganitong proyekto (It is a great honor for me to be part of such projects),” said Villanueva.
“Ito yung mga projects na talagang at the end of the day, hindi lang you capacitate and empower our human resources in the government. It also helps our people. It also lessens yung wait nila, ‘yung delay time,” he added.
(These are the projects that, at the end of the day, not just capacitate and empower our human resources in the government. It also helps our people. It also lessens their wait, the delay time.)
READ: DSWD sets healthier food aid for storm evacuees
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The Inquirer is extending its relief and fund drive to help families affected by Typhoon Carina. Donate to Inquirer Foundation Corp. at BDO Current Account No: 007960018860. For inquiries, email [email protected].
