Metro Manila, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepared more than one million prepositioned relief packs across Mindanao, while Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian traveled to General Santos City on Monday, June 8, to oversee the magnitude 7.8 earthquake response.
Gatchalian said he immediately went to Mindanao upon the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to assess conditions on the ground and ensure that assistance reaches affected communities.
“Sa utos ng pangulo, agad tayong nagtungo sa General Santos City para alamin ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan at tiyaking may agarang tugon sa kanilang mga pangangailangan matapos yanigin ang Mindanao ng magnitude 7.8 na lindol,” Gatchalian said.
[Translation: Upon the president’s instruction, we immediately went to General Santos City to assess the condition of affected residents and ensure an immediate response to their needs after Mindanao was struck by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake.]
The DSWD said it is prepared to support local government units responding to the disaster.
“As instructed by the president, DSWD is ready to respond to the earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao,” Gatchalian said.
The national stockpile stands at nearly five million family food packs (FFPs), including around 1.1 million already prepositioned in warehouses across Mindanao for rapid deployment.
In Davao Region and Soccsksargen alone, the DSWD has over 326,000 FFPs for immediate distribution to affected families.
“We are ready to respond and assist affected families. We will work closely with local government units,” Gatchalian said.
Malacañang earlier assured the public that sufficient funds remain available for rescue, relief and recovery efforts, while the Department of Budget and Management said it stands ready to replenish agency quick response funds as needed.
