President Marcos Inspects DSWD's New Machines to Enhance Disaster Food Pack Production
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian conducted an inspection on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Barangay Tingub, Mandaue City. The visit highlighted the installation of five mechanized production systems, which are significantly boosting the output of family food packs for disaster preparedness across the Philippines.
Increased Production and Storage Capacity
Under manual operations, daily production at the Visayas center was limited to 5,000 to 8,000 packs. With the new machines operating at full capacity, this has surged to as many as 30,000 packs per day. Each of the five mechanized lines, equipped with advanced vacuum packaging technology, can produce over 4,000 packs in an eight-hour shift. This P117.98 million project, funded through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, aims to maximize the DSWD's nationwide storage capacity of 5.2 million packs.
Secretary Gatchalian reported that stockpiled food packs have increased to four million from three million last year, with both the Luzon and Visayas disaster resource centers now featuring these new machines. The agency continues to dispatch supplies for recurring calamities while working to fill its full 5.2 million-pack capacity.
Year-Round Disaster Readiness and Expansion Plans
Gatchalian emphasized that production continues throughout the year, in compliance with President Marcos's directive for 365-day disaster readiness. "Even without a disaster, production continues. We do not prepare only when a disaster strikes — we prepare 365 days a year," he stated. This proactive approach ensures that resources are always available for emergency responses.
President Marcos also announced that a Mindanao Disaster Resource Center is under construction in Butuan City, expected to be operational by late 2026 or early 2027. This new facility will add another 30,000 packs per day to the overall production capacity, further strengthening the nation's disaster response capabilities.
Support for Workers and Community Initiatives
Operations at the Visayas center are supported by DSWD personnel, more than 230 cash-for-work beneficiaries receiving minimum wage, and volunteers. Gatchalian noted that workers affected by mechanization have been redeployed to community-based tasks, ensuring no loss of employment opportunities.
Additionally, Marcos and Gatchalian visited the DSWD 7's Pag-abot Processing Center in Barangay Tayud, Liloan, northern Cebu. This P17.99 million facility can temporarily house up to 100 street children, individuals, and families from Central Visayas. It serves as a 30-day processing and intervention site before beneficiaries return to their home provinces with livelihood grants under the Pag-abot Program, pursuant to Executive Order 52.
The center provides temporary shelter, assessment, and monitoring in coordination with local government units through an automated database system. It targets street dwellers in Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Talisay City, offering a structured pathway to reintegration and support.
