(Left Photo) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista inspects the boxes of family food packs for families affected by Typhoon Rolly in Catanduanes.
(Right Photo) DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista hands over a family food pack to a resident of Barangay Francia, Virac, Catanduanes.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Joselito D.  Bautista flew to Catanduanes today to extend assistance and oversee the  disaster relief operations for families affected by Typhoon Rolly.

Upon arrival,the Secretary proceeded to the municipality of Virac where he led in the  distribution of relief supplies to residents of Barangay Francia.

After Virac, he went to one of the barangays of Bato municipality via Air Force helicopter as the area was difficult to reach being one of the hardest hit towns in the  province. The Secretary, together with Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua, distributed  family food packs (FFPs).

With the assistance of the Office of the Civil Defense and the Philippine Air Force (PAF),  the Secretary initially brought 1,320 FFPs as resource augmentation assistance to the provincial government.

As of press time, around 3,000 FFPs, 400 pieces of 20-liter bottled water, and 3,944 small  bottled mineral water from Maynilad are being loaded to a Coast Guard vessel for dispatch to Catanduanes.  A C295 aircraft is scheduled to fly tomorrow to the said Province to deliver 3,000 FFPs and 80 pieces of laminated sacks.

At present, DSWD-Field Office V, in coordination with the provincial government, is  conducting Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment to determine exact damage brought  about by the disaster and to identify appropriate interventions that will be provided to the  affected families to help them further cope with their difficult situation. One intervention  being considered is the conduct of Food-for-Work.

Meanwhile, as of 6PM today, the Department has already provided more than P5.3 million worth of assistance to affected localities in Regions NCR, II, MIMAROPA, and V.

Aside from Bicol Region, the Department, through its National Resource Operations Center  (NROC), delivered 2,300 FFPs in the regional warehouse of Field Office (FO) III and 1,700  FFPs in Fort Magsaysay Hub Satellite Warehouse.

DSWD FO III also provided relief augmentation composed of 200 hygiene kits, 200  sleeping kits, and 200 family kits in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. There is also an ongoing hauling of 1,000 FFPs to Calumpit, Bulacan and 1,000 FFPs to Masantol,  Pampanga.

DSWD assured that the Department has sufficient resources to sustain its ongoing disaster  operations for Typhoon Rolly with more than P877 million stockpile and standby funds  ready to be used.

In a related development, concerned DSWD Field Offices are also making advance  preparations for Tropical Storm Siony through the continuous repacking of relief goods and  close coordination with LGUs along the storm’s track.

DSWD is thankful for the continuing trust expressed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to  government agencies leading the relief and response operations for Typhoon Rolly. DSWD  also relayed its gratitude to members of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), LGUs, and private partners who are extending aid to  immediately address the needs of affected localities. ###