DAVAO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region XI sent 8,000 family food packs for the families affected by Typhoon Odette in Dinagat Islands early morning Tuesday, Dec. 21.
In coordination with the Civil Defense Davao Region, members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) loaded the food and non-food items in Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao's BRP Cape San Agustin on Monday (Dec. 20).
DSWD Field Office XI OIC-Regional Director Ronald Ryan Cui said BRP Cape San Agustin left Davao City at 4:00 AM.
"The (Philippine Coast Guard) team will check-in through the Incident Command Center in Surigao City before proceeding to the Municipality of San Jose, Province of Dinagat Island by either Wednesday or Thursday," Cui said.
Aside from the food packs, the DSWD XI, through its Disaster Response Management Division, also prepared 3,000 family kits, 2,500 sleeping kits, 1,500 hygiene kits, and 2,0000 malongs for the residents in the province.
The goods will arrive in the province on Wednesday (Dec. 22) or Thursday (Dec. 23).
Cui said they cannot yet give a date for the next batch of aid for Odette-affected areas.
"But we are continuously preparing our resources for possible augmentation," he assured.