The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Tuesday urged communities that may be affected by Super Typhoon Bavi to prepare early, coordinate with local officials, and follow evacuation orders to avoid danger.
Bavi will be given the local name Inday once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said residents should closely monitor announcements from their local government units, especially advisories on preemptive evacuation.
“Ginagawa po itong mga paalala para sa paglilikas o preemptive evacuation para mapangalagaan kayo, maprotektahan kayo from further harm or risks that may exacerbate your current vulnerability (these reminders regarding evacuation or preemptive evacuation are issued to ensure your safety and to protect you from further harm or risks that could aggravate your current vulnerability),” Dumlao said in an interview with radio DZBB.
Dumlao assured residents in areas along the typhoon’s path that DSWD regional field offices have inspected designated evacuation centers to ensure they are ready.
She said the agency will provide assistance to displaced families, including family food packs, ready-to-eat food, and non-food items for those staying in evacuation centers.
“Hindi ninyo kinakailangang mag-alala sa inyong kakainin o gagamitin sapagkat kami po sa DSWD ay nakahanda na magbigay ng suporta. Naka-preposition na po yung aming disaster relief items at yan po ay handang ipamigay sa inyo (You do not need to worry about food or supplies, as we at the DSWD are ready to provide support. Our disaster relief items have already been prepositioned and are ready for distribution to you),” Dumlao said.
Dumlao said the DSWD has more than 4.775 million family food packs worth ₱3 billion strategically prepositioned in warehouses nationwide.
She said 364,283 ready-to-eat food items have also been prepositioned in regional warehouses and major ports, along with 271,446 non-food items across the country.
An additional 7,000 family food packs have been sent to Batanes, which may be affected as the typhoon moves west-northwestward.
The DSWD’s specialized disaster equipment, including regional mobile command centers, mobile kitchens, water trucks, and water filtration machines, is also on standby for deployment when needed.
Super Typhoon Bavi is expected to enter the country either Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.