The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reached a national stockpile of 5 million family food packs (FFPs), marking a milestone in the government’s disaster preparedness efforts.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Leo Quintilla said Wednesday the achievement was made under the agency’s Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) program.

“Under the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) program, we are proud to announce that the DSWD has reached the 5 million mark of national stockpile, which reinforces the Marcos administration’s commitment of ensuring that no Filipino family is left behind in times of crises,” Quintilla said in a statement.

He said the milestone reflects the success of the BBH program, which expanded the country’s disaster logistics network through additional hubs and spokes, upgraded warehousing facilities, automated food pack production, and strengthened partnerships with the private sector, non-government organizations, and civil society organizations.

“The DSWD’s stockpile is strategically prepositioned nationwide. The inventory is continuously replenished to ensure the quality and availability of relief supplies throughout the year, allowing immediate deployment to disaster-hit areas,” Quintilla said.

He added that the DSWD also uses a barcode-based inventory system to monitor the production, storage, distribution, and expiration of family food packs.

“Each food pack is assigned a barcode that contains information on its production and expiration dates. Through our inventory management system, we can easily track where the food packs are stored and ensure that those nearing expiration are prioritized for immediate distribution,” he said.

He said the agency would continue strengthening its disaster response capabilities.

“We will continue to invest in innovation, modernize our disaster response systems, and strengthen our operational capabilities to deliver faster, more efficient, and more responsive assistance to Filipinos affected by emergencies and calamities,” Quintilla said. (PNA)