NFA releases rice to typhoon areas.

The National Food Authority (NFA) has released nearly 5,000 bags of rice to various areas in Luzon amid the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong.

NFA said 4,812 bags of rice were released to relief agencies and local government units for distribution in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol Region.

Cagayan Valley received the bulk with 2,000 bags, Central Luzon with 1,805 bags, Calabarzon and Mimaropa with 1,040 and Bicol Region with 687 bags.

Additional 6,000 bags of rice are being dispersed from the National Capital Region to boost supplies in Cagayan, where the typhoon made landfall yesterday, as well as Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya.

All NFA operations centers in the affected regions are open 24 hours to monitor the situation and provide quick response to any rice needs for typhoon victims.

The grains agency continues to instruct regional offices to secure rice stocks, in anticipation of heightened rice distribution and relief operations during and after the storm.

Currently, NFA has at least one million bags strategically stored in its different warehouses in Luzon, including NCR, for distribution through accredited retailers and for relief operations during calamities.

NFA regional and provincial managers have consulted with local government units, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Office of Civil Defense, Philippine Red Cross and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council regarding preparations for relief operations.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday assured the public that various forms of assistance will be provided to those living in areas devastated by Typhoon Ompong.

In a press conference at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council office, the two agencies said assistance packages have been pre-positioned for deployment to calamity areas.

According to DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, some P27 million worth of assorted medicine, disinfectant, hygiene kits and water containers, among others, have been sent to the provinces in the path of Ompong.

He noted the DOH dispatched medical teams to check on the conditions of the evacuees and they are on the lookout for possible outbreak of diseases like acute respiratory infection, diarrhea and fever.

DSWD Secretary Virginia Orogo said that more than 19,000 food packs have been pre-positioned for distribution in calamity areas in National Capital Region, Region 1, Region 2, Region 3 and Cordillera Autonomous Region.

“The DSWD is prepared for augmentation of these relief packages. Supplies have been pre-positioned at the regional offices where we have our warehouses,” Orogo added.

OFWs get P5,000 cash

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) whose flights were affected by Typhoon Ompong will receive P5,000 financial assistance from the government, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Help desks were established yesterday to process the assistance for OFWs with cancelled flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 to 3, as well as in Clark, Mactan and Davao International Airports.

“In line with this, we are extending cash assistance of P5,000 to those who would be stranded in our airports or seaports while on their way to or from destinations abroad,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

Cayetano said the assistance is similar to what the DFA extended to OFWs who were affected by the runway closure at NAIA last month.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said the cash assistance would be released by the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs to overseas workers who missed their travel to destinations abroad or their return to the country as a result of flight delays or cancellations.

Arriola said affected workers would be required to personally submit copies of their travel documents and employment contracts when claiming the cash assistance.

The United States has expressed its willingness to provide assistance to victims of Typhoon Ompong.

“Our thoughts are with those affected by Typhoon Ompong,” US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said on Twitter. “The US, as a friend, partner and ally of the Philippines, stands ready to assist.”

The ambassador has been sharing updates about the typhoon, the strongest so far to hit the country this year.

In an earlier tweet, he also advised US citizens in the country to take note of numbers to contact in cases of emergency.

“To all those living in areas that may be affected by Typhoon Ompong, have a plan ready to make sure you and your loved ones are safe,” he told his followers.