Cordillera Administrative Region – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here continues to monitor TY Egay as it is forecasted to stay in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and eventually affect the region until Friday, 10 July 2015.

DSWD-CAR OIC-Regional Director Janet P. Armas assured the public on the preparedness of the Department to response to the needs that may arise due to the said typhoon.

“We have begun our disaster preparations early this year. Last June, we were able to complete the required 30,000 family food packs stock pile for the region. Since Saturday night, our Quick Action Response Teams (QUART) were on duty to closely monitor the situation”, Dir. Armas shared.

A total of 37,498 family packs are ready for distribution in which 14,200 family packs are already pre-positioned in the provinces. 3,600 family packs are pre-positioned in the Provinces of Ifugao, Kalinga, and Apayao while 2,000 family packs were provided to Abra and 1,900 to Mt. Province. The rest of the stock pile available in the Field Office is for the Province of Benguet and for augmentation to other provinces upon the request of the local government units (LGUs). The Field Office also has a stand-by fund of Php 3,058,927.45 that can be used to purchase necessities during the disaster.

“Aside from the family packs, commodities and fund, we have already prepared our personnel by conducting our disaster risk preparedness, reduction, and management training to our staff to further capacitate them in responding to disaster and crisis situations.” Dir. Armas added.

The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CRDRRMC) Response Center Hub is located at the DSWD-CAR Training Center. And the Department is closely working with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in monitoring the effects of TY Egay in the Cordilleras.

As of 3 PM of 6 July 2015, DSWD-CAR has monitored 314 individuals served and provided with family food packs, clothing, and blankets. DSWD-CAR QUAR Teams will remain on duty 24/7 and maybe reached through (074) 444-32-09.  # DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva