As the new low pressure area (LPA) located north of Batanes continues to enhance the rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon or Hanging Habagat, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and its field offices (FOs) intensify their coordination with other disaster response agencies and LGUs in monitoring the high-risk areas which may be affected by flooding and landslides.

Based on the 5AM report of PAGASA, monsoon rains will continue to batter Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Metro Manila, and the provinces of Mindoro and Palawan. Citizens near coastal areas are also warned of the moderate to strong winds that will prevail throughout the archipelago causing coastal waters to be moderate to rough.

“Patuloy pa rin ang aming pagpapaalala sa ating mga kababayan na mag-ingat sa posibleng epekto ng masamang panahon. Mas kailangan po natin ngayon ang pakikiisa ng lahat upang maagap na matulungan ang mga apektado ng ulan at baha (We continue to remind everyone to be vigilant on the possible impacts of the heavy rains. Everyone must cooperate so we can immediately help those who are affected by the heavy rains and flood),” urged DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo.

At present, the total number of 195,845 family food packs (FFPs) strategically prepositioned to all regions that are currently and will most likely be affected by the Southwest Monsoon.

In addition, the DSWD FO-I received 10,000 brown rice bars from the DWD-National Resource Operations Center (NROC).

Lastly, the DSWD-Disaster Response and Operations Monitoring Information Center (DROMIC) encourages the public to access their Virtual Operations Center (http://dromic.dswd.gov.ph/) for more information on the status on the recent LPA and assistance provided to affected areas. #