The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported Friday that it had released 265,104 family food packs nationwide in response to the effects of Tropical Storm Enteng.
“Mr. President, from the last time we met two days ago. That time was 133,000 released food packs. Now, we’re up to 265,104 nationwide, of which in CALABARZON, one of the hardest hit areas, 41,961,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian told President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the storm situation briefing at the Ynares Events Center in Antipolo City.
“We are still processing another 200,000 as we speak, so ‘yung initial na nasabi ko sa inyo na I think it will play at around 250 to 300. Hindi ho, it keeps on going up kasi there are still flooded areas understandably. We’ll probably close at around half a million family food packs for Enteng alone,” he added.
Of the 41,961 family foods packs released to CALABARZON, Gatchalian said a greater chunk went to Rizal, with 28,100 food packs.
Asked by the President about the estimated requirement to alleviate the people’s condition from the effects of Enteng, Gatchalian said the requirement will be half a million family food packs nationwide, adding that the agency is already halfway through the effort.
“Nag-slowdown na ho ‘yung pasok ng requests. So, we’ll be able to process everything by end of this week. Lahat ho ‘yun fully deployed na. Then, we start stockpiling for the next two storms coming in,” Gatchalian told the President.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Rizal has reported at least 12 deaths, three missing individuals, and five injuries due to flooding and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Enteng, enhanced by the prevailing southwest monsoon.
An estimated 5,668 individuals, or approximately 1,670 families, are currently housed in 49 evacuation centers in Rizal. The province’s hardest-hit areas include Morong, Teresa, Cainta, Rodriguez, and San Mateo. PND