DSWD-7 set to give relief goods today

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 will be sending out relief goods to Eastern Samar today.

Around 10,000 sacks of rice, at least 33,334 boxes of noodles, 12,000 boxes of canned meat, 10,000 boxes of coffee, and 12,000 boxes of sardines are currently stocked in two relief warehouses in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue, said the agency.

The goods will be transported through the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu.

DSWD-7 disaster focal person Jenny Abastillas said they will also tap the assistance of commercial vessels in delivering the goods.

“Bisan asa nga point of entry like Palompon or Hilongos, duna mi kontakon nga maoy musugat didto informing them of the number of items being sent,” said Abastillas, saying the DSWD-7 will pay for the shipment through commercial vessels.

Following typhoon Ruby, which hit northern Cebu and Eastern Samar in Region 8, the national government released P300 million-budget for DSWD’s relief goods and operations.

The agency finished packing food packs yesterday. It has so far dispatched at least 50,000 food packs to Eastern Samar and around 36,000 to northern Cebu. The agency is yet to send some 10,600 food packs to the towns of Poro, Tudela, Sta. Fe, and Medellin in Cebu.

Some of the food packs for northern Cebu were distributed to the different municipalities while the rest were personally brought by the DSWD. (FREEMAN)