DSWD prepares for expected entry of Super Typhoon Champi this week

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Sunday that it has been preparing for the expected entry of Super Typhoon Champi into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this week.

In a news release, the agency said that as of 6 a.m., there are 4,571,390 family food packs prepositioned in its relief warehouses nationwide.

Meanwhile, 344,942 non-food items and 204,745 ready-to-eat food packs are also in stock.

"Sa pamamagitan po ng ating strategic hubs at warehouses, pinapanatili nating active ang supply chain para agad-agad nating maipahatid ang kinakailangang augmentation support kung sakali man na manghingi ng assistance ang mga komunidad na maaaring maapektuhan," DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said.

(Through our strategic hubs and warehouses, we are keeping the supply chain active so that we can immediately deliver necessary augmentation support should communities likely to be affected request assistance.)

Dumlao added that major production hubs are producing family food packs non-stop and that the agency's intensified disaster preparations align with the President's directive to maintain sufficient national stockpiles and ensure the fast delivery of relief assistance.

DSWD said it is continuing to monitor weather updates from the state weather bureau PAGASA, as the super typhoon could affect Northern Luzon, Cagayan Valley, and the northern portion of Ilocos Region toward the end of the week.

The DSWD said it is closely monitoring PAGASA weather updates on Champi, which is expected to impact Northern Luzon, Cagayan Valley, and the northern part of the Ilocos Region toward the end of the week.

As of 8 a.m. on Sunday, Super Typhoon Champi was estimated outside PAR at 2,145 km east of Southeastern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gusts of up to 230kph. —RF, GMA News