Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has more than 2.4 million boxes of family food packs (FFPs) prepositioned across the country in preparation for a looming weather disturbance.

According to Philippines News Agency, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the approaching low pressure area (LPA) has a medium chance of developing into a tropical cyclone and will be called 'Paolo' once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

'Kasabay ng patuloy na pamamahagi ng DSWD ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan na nasalanta ng mga nakaraang bagyo ay ang patuloy rin na pag-rereplenish ng ating mga food and non-food items sa mga warehouses sa buong bansa (As the DSWD continues to distribute assistance to our countrymen affected by the recent cyclones, it also continues to replenish food and non-food items in warehouses nationwide),' Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said in a statement on Tuesday.

'Alinsunod po sa direktiba ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na siguraduhin na walang pamilya ang magugutom sa oras ng kalamidad, ang DSWD po ay namahagi na ng higit 300,000 na FFPs sa mga naapektuhan ng Bagyong Mirasol, Nando, at Opong. Patuloy po ang production sa ating mga warehouses para matiyak na napapalitan agad ang mga ito para ma-meet natin ang ating stockpile target na 3 million FFPs at any given time nationwide (In line with the directives of President Marcos to ensure that no family will go hungry in times of calamities, the DSWD has already distributed more than 300,000 FFPs to families affected by tropical cyclones Mirasol, Nando and Opong. Production continues to ensure that these are replenished immediately to meet our stockpile of 3 million FFPs at any given time nationwide),' the DSWD spokesperson said.

Dumlao said the new mechanized packing system in the Luzon Disaster Resource Center (LDRC) and Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) made it possible for the DSWD to increase the production of FFPs.

Aside from food packs and non-food items, the DSWD and its Field Offices have more than PHP379 million standby funds ready for relief operations.

Dumlao also pointed out that all the agency's disaster response vehicles and other equipment, such as mobile kitchens, mobile water stations, and mobile command centers are also ready to be deployed in affected areas, as the need arises.

'Muli ay nais po naming ipaalala sa ating mga kababayan na patuloy na mag-ingat at makinig sa anunsyo ng inyong mga local chief executives para po mapanatili ang inyong kaligtasan tuwing may sakuna (Again, we want to remind our countrymen to keep safe and continue listening to the announcements of your local chief executives to ensure your safety during calamities),' she said.