The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to coordinate with local government units (LGUs) that were affected by Tropical Depression Mirasol, assuring them of relief augmentation based on their request.

“Ang protocol naman natin in any disaster dapat tuluy-tuloy ang ugnayan ng DSWD Field Offices (FOs) natin sa mga LGUs para masigurado na sapat ang supply nila para matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga disaster-hit constituents nila. Ang ating mga LGUs ang first responders tuwing may kalamidad (In any disaster, our protocol is for our filed offices to continuously coordinate with the LGUs to ensure that they have enough supplies to address the needs of disaster-hit constituents, The LGUs are the first responders during calamities),” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said in a statement on Thursday.

Dumlao said the DSWD’s FO 2 (Cagayan Valley) has already sent initial aid in the form of family food packs (FFPs) to the province of Quirino.

“We are making sure that hunger will not exacerbate their ordeal and situation, which is always on top of the priorities of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr,” Dumlao said.

Based on the 6 a.m. report of the Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC) on Thursday, TD Mirasol has affected 17,288 families or 63,121 persons in 70 barangays in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Bicol Region.

Of the affected population, there are 96 families or 293 persons currently taking temporary shelter in 21 evacuation centers.

“As the lead in Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), the DSWD is making sure that the needs and comfort of internally-displaced persons (IDPs) are addressed promptly, both by local social welfare and development offices (LSWDOs), in coordination with our frontline disaster response personnel,” she said.

The DSWD is also closely monitoring TD Nando which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday evening.

Dumlao assured LGUs that the DSWD has enough relief resources to simultaneously respond to Mirasol’s impact while preparing for the possible effects of Nando.

“We have more than 2.5 million boxes of FFPs, as well as ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes, other non-food relief items in strategically-prepositioned warehouses nationwide,” she said.

“Nandyan rin ang pagsisiguro na open ang communication lines natin sa mga LGUs na direktang maapektuhan nitong TD Nando para masigurong mabilis na makakarating ang kakailanganin na tulong (We also assure that our communication lines with LGUs directly in the path of Nando are open to ensure the prompt delivery of needed assistance).” (PNA)