Raquel Panal, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO), said "the prepositioning agreement will ensure a more timely and efficient delivery of relief items to affected families or communities in times of distress."

Based on the MOA, the DSWD will preposition relief items at the storage facility of the local government unit, which must be compliant with the warehousing and storage facility standards imposed by the DSWD to protect the safety and non-contamination of the food items.

Panal disclosed that the designated area for the housing of the relief items in Sarangani will be an identified room in Sarangani National Sports Academy (SaNSA) inside the Capitol compound.

She added that there will be an assigned person who will monitor the items on a regular basis and ensure that the DSWD's policy of “first in-first out” is followed in releasing the item.

If the items are not used in a calamity within three months, the MOA states the LGU will formally request the DSWD to use the items for its food-for-work program related to disaster risk reduction management and preparedness.

"The food assistance," Panal said, "includes food and non-food items (FNIs) as preparedness measures in efficiently responding to LGUs emergencies or disasters."

"Pag may kalamidad, magwi-withdraw tayo according to the needs and pag consumed na yung 25% ng laman ng warehouse, the DSWD will refill, so at least 25% will warrant the delivery," said Panal.

“This will allow us to immediately provide assistance to affected individuals as soon as we receive clearance from the DSWD,” she added.

The MOA with the PLGU Sarangani is a result of the order of DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo to make relief items available in the localities as a means of improving support to the LGUs and ensuring immediate assistance for people affected by a calamity.

Present during the MOA signing were Provincial Administrator Atty. Ryan Jay Ramos, Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Jenric Garcia, Provincial Information Officer Joana Grace Lapore, and staff from DSWD XII. (Joshua John S. Pantonial/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)