In anticipation of Typhoon Marce, also known internationally as Yinxing, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has mobilized relief efforts in the Ilocos Region, stockpiling a total of PHP57.9 million in aid. This includes 28,797 family food packs valued at PHP20.6 million and 14,944 non-food items amounting to PHP37.3 million, as stated by DSWD Ilocos Region Director Marie Angela Gopalan.
The relief supplies are strategically distributed across the region. Ilocos Norte holds 18,124 family food packs and 2,639 non-food items, Ilocos Sur has 3,991 family food packs and 446 non-food items, La Union is equipped with 2,818 family food packs and 11,053 non-food items, and Pangasinan has 3,864 family food packs and 806 non-food items as of Thursday.
Each family food pack is designed to provide essential sustenance, containing six kilos of rice, four cans of tuna, four cans of corned beef, two cans of sardines, five sachets of instant coffee, and five sachets of cereal. The non-food items include hygiene kits, among other necessities.
Additionally, DSWD has prepared 12,144 bottles of water worth PHP728,640 and has PHP3 million in cash funds ready for deployment. Gopalan emphasized that any requests for further assistance from local government units will undergo a validation process before distribution.
The DSWD’s proactive measures extend beyond Typhoon Marce. As of November 4, the department had already distributed PHP54.27 million worth of family food packs and other non-food items to approximately 74,450 families in the Ilocos Region affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) and Super Typhoon Leon (international name Kong-rey).