DSWD Earmarks P270 Million in Standby Funds for Typhoon ‘Ruby’

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allocated P270 million in standby funds in aid of areas that will be affected by Typhoon ‘Ruby’ (international name ‘Hagupit’), Malacañang said on Thursday.D

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said that some 270,000 family food packs worth P18 million have also been prepositioned in all DSWD regional offices, as part of government efforts to prepare for the storm.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday afternoon put at least 10 provinces in Eastern Visayas under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1.

These provinces include Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Island.

Local disaster risk reduction management councils at the barangay, city, provincial, and regional levels, meanwhile, have been put on alert in case forced evacuation of residents becomes necessary, Secretary Coloma said.

“Just to give you an example, since yesterday ang mga information center officers ng PIA (Philippine Information Agency) in every province, have been giving hourly updates on the weather situation,” he said during a press briefing.

“So, as they do this, then they are able to interact with people on the ground and convey the importance of being on alert and being prepared, para naman mapaghandaan talaga, at ayaw din nating mag-set in ‘yung ligalig at ‘yung takot dahil ito ay makakaapekto sa mahusay na pagresponde o pagtugon sa magiging aktuwal na sitwasyon,” he explained.

Malacañang remains on the alert for updates from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), PAGASA, and Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) regarding the typhoon’s strength and trajectory to determine its possible
impact on the affected areas.

Coloma said both DOST and PAGASA have deployed operatives on the typhoon’s possible landfall points to give a more accurate assessment of the situation on the ground, thus augmenting the analysis they have drawn from satellite images.

“Lahat ng mga maaaring hakbang para madagdagan ang accuracy ng forecast on the projected landfall ay isinasagawa dahil nga doon sa layunin na huwag magkaroon ng casualties at mailigtas ang ating mga kababayan,” he said.

“So, as Typhoon ‘Ruby’ moves inward into the Philippine Area of Responsibility, at mas malapit doon sa possible landfall, lalong nagkakaroon ng clarification on the projected area of impact,” Coloma added. PND (hdc)