DSWD prepares relief for areas in Typhoon Lando’s path

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The field offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are on red alert in anticipation of Typhoon Lando’s landfall, the agency announced Saturday, October 17.

Disaster teams are on 24-hour duty as they monitor the situation, preparing to provide assistance to local government units (LGUs). DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman assured LGUs in the areas placed on high alert that there are enough relief supplies to support them.

According to a press release, DSWD has readied a total of 44,450 family food packs, spread across 10 provinces in the susceptible regions. (READ: Typhoon Lando may ‘linger’ over N Luzon for days)

In the central warehouse of the DSWD, located in Pasay City, there are:

• 148,219 malongs
• 863 bath towels
• 46,538 blankets
• 9,715 mosquito nets
• 2,744 dust masks
• 38 family kits (sets consisting of all the above)

Isabela braces for Lando

Some 219 people from Isabela have been evacuated to 5 centers managed by the provincial government, as of 9:17am on Saturday. Relief supplies worth P84,000 were provided to these 72 families.

The provincial government is overseeing the repacking of family food packs at the field office in order to maintain the 30,000 stockpile at the regional warehouse.

Elsewhere, the DSWD has sent a total of:

• 747 packs to Abra
• 750 to Kalinga
• 2,000 to Apayao
• 2,000 to Ifugao.

Some 1,600 family food packs are now being readied for delivery to the Mountain Province.

Soliman advises people in low-lying and coastal areas to remain vigilant and to obey the orders of local authorities.

If you have any questions, feedback, or additional information, please email move.ph@rappler.com or tweet @moveph. Get the latest #WeatherAlert and typhoon updates on Project Agos. Tweet any updates to #LandoPH.

Lorenzo Benitez is a Rappler intern. He is an incoming Cornell University student. Follow him on Twitter: @_lorenzob