The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Negros Island Region said Feb. 5 that it is on heightened alert and preparedness, and closely monitoring Tropical Storm Basyang.
To ensure a swift and effective response, the field office has strategically prepositioned food and non-food items (FNFIs) across the region.
The stockpiles are currently stationed at the Dumaguete warehouse, Bacolod warehouse, and at the Bredco warehouse to allow for rapid mobilization to affected local government units (LGUs).
Relief goods have also been prepositioned in 31 LGUs to ensure immediate assistance to communities at risk, the DSWD-NIR said.
These include 168,067 family food packs, 10,784 ready-to-eat food, 5,970 nonfood items (NFIs), and 1,161 other NFIs.
The agency said it is also closely coordinating with LGUs, regional disaster risk reduction and management councils, and partner-agencies to ensure timely assistance to communities that may be affected by “Basyang”.
“The DSWD-NIR remains on standby to augment resources and deploy quick response teams as needed, reaffirming our commitment to protect lives and provide immediate relief in line with the national government’s directive on proactive and responsive disaster preparedness,” it added.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government, meanwhile, has urged identified high-risk LGUs in flood and landslide-prone barangays to implement disaster preparedness measures for “Basyang”.
The DILG called on LGUs to monitor the rapid increase of floodwater in active river systems of identified flood-prone barangays; enforce pre-emptive/mandatory evacuation protocols for barangays situated at the foot of gullies or creeks or in areas demonstrating active slope movement; and alert residents living near streams to be vigilant against rain-induced landslides.
Punong barangays should activate barangay-level preparedness mechanisms in accordance with the “L!STO si KaP” guide, and carry out critical readiness actions in close coordination with their respective city or municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Provincial and city or municipal local governments may temporarily close roads to all forms of vehicles until affected barangays are deemed safe, the DILG stressed. ||
