DSWD Prepositions 1.3 Million Food Packs Ahead of Typhoon Pepito.

Quezon City: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has a national stockpile of 1.3 million family food packs (FFPs) to augment the needs of local government units (LGUs) still recovering from the effects of previous storms and those that may be affected by Typhoon Pepito (international name Man-yi). This was reported by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at a situation briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) office at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian stated, “We maintain a 1.3 million stockpile of FFPs nationwide. We’re not dropping that. Then we’re now utilizing two supply lines. Simultaneously, we’re producing from Central Luzon, Pasay City, and Cebu.” He emphasized the department’s enhanced efforts to expedite preparations for Pepito by receiving prepacked supplies while continuing production.

The strategy is part of the agency’s Buong Bansa Handa mechanism,
which allows for the activation of two supply chains during disasters. The first supply chain focuses on improving production capabilities and processes at the DSWD’s National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City, the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Cebu, and various warehouse and storage facilities across the 16 DSWD field offices. The second supply chain involves collaborations with the private sector to meet the needs of families in disaster-stricken areas.

Gatchalian announced plans to increase the daily production of FFPs to between 50,000 and 85,000 boxes to avoid straining the supply chain. “Mr. President, our usual production in Luzon was 35,000 FFPs daily. Next week, we will reach 85,000, and it won’t drop to 50,000 because we expect Pepito to be very severe. That’s why we are coordinating everything for next week,” he said.

He assured President Marcos that with this production capacity, the DSWD could produce 1 million FFPs by December 7, in addition to the 1.3 million FFPs currently in st
ock. The recent replenishment of the department’s Quick Response Funds also ensures that the agency would have adequate relief supplies despite the increasing demand.