When calamities strike, relief does not simply mean rushing food packs to affected families. Behind every Family Food Pack (FFP) is a rigorous process of quality assurance, a safeguard to ensure that the meals reaching displaced families in the Cordillera Region are both safe and sufficient.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has long been proactive in prepositioning Family Food Packs and Non-Food Items (NFIs) in strategically located warehouses for quick mobilization during emergencies. Central to this effort is the Disaster Response Management Division, through its Regional Resource Operations Section, which handles logistics, stockpiling, and quality control.
In the Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (FO CAR), DSWD staff and warehouse personnel take the lead in the meticulous process of quality checking. But when operations scale up during a disaster, the task becomes too massive for the core staff alone. To bridge this gap, volunteers are encouraged and given the opportunity to augment the workforce. They play a crucial role in inspecting Family Food Packs (FFPs), Ready-to-Eat Food (RTEF), and various Non-Food Items (NFIs) such as family kits, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, and women-and-children kits.
These volunteers do not simply assist—they become an integral part of the quality control chain. Each one undergoes briefing sessions conducted by DSWD personnel, where they are oriented on the proper procedures, do’s and don’ts, and the importance of safeguarding the integrity of every relief item. Their participation ensures that no damaged or unsafe goods reach the hands of disaster-affected families.
By opting to volunteer, community members embody the Cordillera spirit of solidarity. Their contribution not only lightens the logistical load but also reinforces the shared responsibility of ensuring that displaced families receive relief packs that are safe, sufficient, and worthy of their dignity.
The Quality Control Process
The quality assurance system begins with delivery. At least two percent (2%) of the total delivery is first inspected. If the sample meets standards, the batch proceeds to 100% quality checking. If not, the percentage of inspected goods increases to guarantee no damaged or expired items slip through. This ensures that all welfare goods are quantitatively and qualitatively accounted for—securing proper liquidation, stockpiling, and distribution.
Outgoing deliveries undergo additional steps:
- Pre-Delivery Inspection – Visual checks of delivery vehicles ensure they are clean, sanitary, and fit for hauling relief goods.
- Random Sampling – Warehouse personnel determine batches for inspection to validate quality.
- Releasing and Documentation – Items are cleared for release, with warehouse staff and Quality Assurance clerks filing signed inspection forms for recordkeeping.
Other Quality Control Mechanisms
Beyond dispatch, DSWD employs regular maintenance inspections of stored goods. This practice was strengthened after three FFP batches were previously rejected due to heavy infestation. To prevent recurrence, inspections are now done two, four, and six weeks from production, with a heightened focus on rice—monitored bi-weekly to prevent massive spoilage, given the limitations in storage technology.
The Role of Volunteers
In times of disaster, the Cordillera spirit of volunteerism shines. Community members readily step in to help sort, inspect, haul, load and unload relief goods, often braving long hours to make sure that no family receives spoiled rice or dented cans. Their hands, guided by DSWD’s standards, are part of the invisible frontline ensuring that relief is not just fast, but dignified.
Commitment to Preparedness
The DSWD FO CAR continues to strengthen its systems, not only to respond swiftly but also to guarantee the integrity of every relief item it distributes. With stockpiles of food and non-food items ready for prepositioning, the agency stands prepared to augment local government units whenever disaster strikes.
Behind every packed box and sealed sack is more than just food—it is a promise of safety, accountability, and care for every Cordilleran family in their most vulnerable hour.
### DSWD-CAR Social Marketing Unit – Novelle G. Ongat, Information Officer II, Disaster Response & Management Division
