DSWD hands out 23K food packs in 15 Eastern Visayas areas

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday said it has released a total of 23,778 family food packs in 15 local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas that were affected by Typhoon Odette.

The agency said it coordinated with the Office of Civil Defense, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, and Philippine National Police for the transportation of the family food packs (FFPs) in the following areas:

Southern Leyte

• Silago - 2,108 
• Hinundayan - 2,100 
• Hinunangan - 3,500
• Saint Bernard - 1,500
• Sogod - 2,400
• Maasin City - 1,000
• Liloan - 1,800
• Limasawa - 2,000
• Macrohon - 500
• Bontoc - 1,000
• San Francisco - 1,600
• San Juan - 700

Leyte

• Dulag - 1,000
• Hilongos - 70
• Tacloban City - 2,500

Each food pack contains six kilos of rice, four cans of corned beef, four cans of tuna flakes, two cans of sardines, five sachets of coffee and five sachets of cereal drink.

DSWD said that each pack can sustain a family of five for two to three days.

“These FFPs and its contents may not be sold, as it is intended for relief distribution to disaster-affected families,” DSWD said in a statement.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao stressed that they have more than P900 million worth of available stockpiles and standby funds to aid those affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.

As of Saturday, Dumlao said that DSWD has provided about P3.5 million worth of assistance to Odette-hit areas in Caraga, Eastern and Western Visayas, and Mimaropa regions.

DSWD said that according to Republic Act 10121, the LGUs should be the first ones to respond during disasters. They can request for additional relief items from the agency when needed.—Giselle Ombay/LDF, GMA News