DSWD readies resources in case super typhoon Julian affects more people

FILE PHOTO: This photo shows piled boxes of relief items from the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) and a woman helping in the repacking of goods in this file photo taken in July 2024. INQUIRER / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The resources of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are on standby and ready to be distributed in case more people are affected by Super Typhoon Julian, according to DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao.

A total of 64,000 family food packs (FFP) were prepositioned in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), 72,000 FFP in Region 1, and 117,000 in Region 2, said Dumlao at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Tuesday.

READ: Julian exits PAR, but may re-enter on Wednesday – Pagasa 

“Ang atin pong national resource center dito sa Pasay City ay nagsasaayos na po ng augmentation dito sa mga nabanggit pong lugar,” Dumlao said.

(The national resource center here in Pasay City is already organizing augmentation in the mentioned areas.)

She added that the DSWD is in continuous coordination with the Office of the Civil Defense so they could use the latter’s air and naval assets in case the aid needs to be transported in far flung areas.

READ: Pimentel questions DSWD’s AKAP aid: It’s like a ‘secret’ program 

As of 6 a.m., more than 29,000 families, or 90,000 individuals, from CAR, Regions 1, and 2 have been affected by Julian.

From this number, 405 families, or 1,204 individuals, sought shelter from 58 evacuation centers.

Julian already exited the Philippine area of responsibility as of 9 a.m. on Tuesday but may reenter on Wednesday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

It added that the weather system may intensify within the next 18 hours but slightly weaken before making landfall as it approaches the mountains of Taiwan.