The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday will assist passengers returning to their home provinces in time for Undas 2025, including food packs and ready-to-eat food items.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian has directed all regional directors of the DSWD to ensure their readiness ahead of the nationwide observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2, respectively.
Part of the directive is to prepare immediate assistance to families and individuals who may get stranded when traveling to their home provinces, according to DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao.
Dumlao said the DSWD has sufficient relief items such as its ready-to-eat food and family food packs, as well as other food and non-food items to individuals who may be stranded.
‘We have enough family food packs in our warehouses and all ready-to-eat food items have been prepositioned to different ports and terminals,’ Dumlao said in a statement. ‘We also have enough food and non-food items.’
Gatchalian also ordered all DSWD Quick Response Teams (QRTs) nationwide to be on standby to respond ‘in case any untoward incidents or eventualities occur.’
The QRTs will also assist local government units should they need augmentation support, Dumlao said.
‘Our preparations have never stopped, even in time for Undas, so we can ensure the provision of immediate assistance to our fellow Filipinos who may be affected by any possible problems they may encounter as they go back to their provinces,’ Dumlao said.