DSWD, NGOs prepare relief goods for #ChedengPH response

MANILA, Philippines – Even before Super Typhoon Chedeng (international name: Maysak) makes landfall in the country, the national government and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) started prepositioning goods for response on Wednesday, April 1.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it is ready to add to the resources of local government units (LGUs) and assist in disaster relief operations in areas that will be affected by the typhoon.

According to the DSWD, it has a total of P271.74 million ($6.2 million) worth of food packs and other food and non-food items ready for distribution. Aside from this, it has P19.9 million ($453,000) on standby to be used to purchase emergency relief supplies.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in a briefing Thursday, April 2, that 9 regions, 37 provinces, 71 cities, and 676 towns have been alerted for Chedeng, with emphasis on the provinces of Aurora, Quezon, Isabela, and Quirino.

Prepositioned goods

DSWD said that is has prepositioned family food packs in LGUs forecasted to be in Typhoon Chedeng’s path. The department’s regional offices are also on standby to repack goods.

Goods have been prepositioned in the following Region I towns and cities:

Ilocos Norte

• Laoag City – 3,000 packs
• Burgos – 3,000 packs

Ilocos Sur

• Vigan City – 3,000 packs
• Santa – 2,000 packs
• Cervantes – 2,000 packs

Pangasinan

• Bani – 4,000 packs
• Rosales – 4,000 packs
• Dagupan City – 3,000 packs
• Sta Barbara – 2,000 packs
• Manaoag – 2,000 packs

In Central Luzon, 1,500 food family packs have been prepositioned in Aurora and 1,680 in Lubao, Pampanga. 

In Cagayan Valley, around 31,244 family food packs have been prepositioned in Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya provinces.

“The prepositioning of goods at the LGU level would ensure faster delivery of relief supplies to families that will be affected by the weather disturbance,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said.

NGOs monitoring typhoon

Various NGOs are also bracing for Typhoon Chedeng’s impact. 

Save the Children has stocked up its main warehouses in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao with emergency supplies, including emergency shelter, basic household items, hygiene items, and water kits for 10,000 families.

Ned Olney, country director of Save the Children Philippines said the NGO is concerned about the millions of people that will be travelling for Easter. “It’s still too early to know what this storm will do, but we would ask everyone to heed safety warnings and prepare as if this storm is going to be a big one. In this situation, you can never be too cautious,” he added. (READ: Holy Week travelers told: Adjust to Typhoon Maysak)

The Philippine Red Cross has also started mobilizing its volunteers to prepare for the typhoon. “We call on the Red Cross volunteers to be the eyes and ears in your respective areas. You have been trained and we hope that you will put to practice what you have learned to esnure the safety of your family and your community,” PRC chairman Richard Gordon said.

Rappler’s MovePH has also issued a call for volunteers to help gather and map critical reports online for Project Agos. The information will be used by NDRRMC and LGUs.

In its 11am advisory on Thursday, state weather bureau PAGASA said Chedeng has weakened. It is expected to make landfall late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.

In a news briefing Thursday morning, PAGASA weather division chief Esperanza Cayanan said public storm warning signal number 1 will be raised over Bicol and Northern Samar within the next 12 hours. 

PAGASA warned of possible storm surges of up to 4 meters over the eastern coast of Samar, Bicol, and Aurora-Quezon. – Rappler.com

US$1 = P43.9