In a significant relief effort, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided 2,303 family food packs to residents of Eastern Samar who were severely impacted by recent floods. The distribution took place this week, targeting the hardest-hit areas of Arteche and Jipapad towns, where 1,186 and 1,117 packs were delivered respectively.
The initiative, captured in a photograph from Arteche dated January 12, 2025, showcases the ongoing efforts by the DSWD to support local governments in disaster response. The flooding, triggered by a shear line, led to severe conditions in the region, with Jipapad declaring a state of calamity on the same day due to the flooding that affected 13 of its villages.
Each family food pack, valued at PHP500, is designed to sustain a family of two to three members for two to three days. The contents include six kilograms of rice, four cans of corned beef, two cans of tuna flakes, two cans of sardines, five sachets of coffee, and five sachets of energy drink.
The DSWD’s actions are in line with the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, which mandates local governments to be the first responders in disaster situations, with the DSWD providing supplementary support.