Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Sunday said he wants to be sure that all families and individuals seriously affected by Tropical Storm (TS) Dodong, particularly those in Central and Northern Luzon, are well taken care of.

Gatchalian directed all regional directors (RDs) in Luzon to closely coordinate with local government unit (LGU) officials for the distribution of relief goods in the aftermath of the weather disturbance.

“Kindly make sure to link up with your governors and tell them if they need help with evacuation. We can send over FFPs (family food packs). I’m seeing in the news isolated evacuations everywhere,” the DSWD chief told the regional officials.

Gatchalian emphasized that they must be proactive in calling their respective governors, mayors, and congressmen and offer them delivery of FFPs in areas where there are evacuees.

Central Luzon Regional Director Jonathan Dirain told the DSWD chief that Field Office-3 has already coordinated with the provincial government of Bulacan for the FFP dispatch.

“We will be sending FFPs to the evacuation center (in Bulacan) kahit wala pa po silang request (even though they have no request yet,)” Dirain said.

Among the areas affected by TS Dodong were the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya (Region 2-Cagayan Valley); Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet (Cordillera Administrative Region);  Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northern portion of Pangasinan (Region 1-Ilocos Region); and the northern and central portions of Aurora (Region 3- Central Luzon).

Dodong left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday but enhanced the southwest monsoon, thus causing moderate to severe rainfall until Sunday. (PNA)