Based on PAGASA reports released 4 PM today, the center of Tropical Depression Usman was estimated at 410 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It is moving westward at 10 kph. It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center with 65 kph gustiness.
Due to this weather disturbance, all six provinces in Region VIII – Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte and Biliran, have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is prepared for Usman.
DSWD has a stockpile of relief items, both food and non-food at the Regional Resource Operations Section (RROS). Currently, DSWD has 24,543 Family Food Packs (FFPs). Aside from these packaged FFPs, DSWD also has raw materials for the production of additional food packs. These include 653 sacks of rice, 86,328 cans of corned beef, 126,496 cans of beef loaf, 2,140 cans of meat loaf and 112,100 sachets of coffee. These raw materials are ready to be packaged into FFPs as soon as need arises. Non-food relief items include 24,397 blankets, 594 mosquito nets, 14,914 malongs, 1,344 hygiene kits, 497 family kits and 497 sleeping kits. RROS is ready to dispatch these relief items when the LGUs request augmentation.
Aside from relief items, DSWD staff have also been alerted and are monitoring the weather disturbance. Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) prroject development officers (PDOs) have already been stationed at the Region’s six provinces to monitor the situation closely. They will be coordinating with the Social Welfare Action Team, the Provincial/Municipal Action Teams and the the Provincial/Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers. DSWD’s Quick Response Team (QRT) has already been alerted and is now rendering 24/7 duty.
DSWD also has a standby fund of P3,000,000.00 which can be used to purchase additional raw materials for the production of FFPs.