The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that some 179,931 food packs, amounting to P52,347,950 were already provided to victims of Typhoon “Pablo” in Region XI, as of December 14, 2012.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman who is now in Region XI to oversee relief operations led yesterday the distribution of 20,000 family packs in affected areas in Compostela Valley to augment the resources of the Local Government Units (LGUs). Those which received relief goods yesterday were the municipalities of Compostela, Monkayo, Montevista, and Laak. An additional 10,000 pieces of food packs will be delivered today to other municipalities in Compostela Valley such as Mawab, Mabini, New Bataan, Nabunturan and Pantukan.
In a strategic meeting with the DSWD Field Office XI disaster team, the Secretary emphasized the need to intensify relief distribution efforts to ensure that the food needs of the victims are addressed. She commended the field office staff for their vigorous public service 24-hours a day and motivated them to continue vigilance in disaster operations. Secretary Soliman also instructed the region to strengthen disaster monitoring and the information dissemination system.
In light of the massive destruction brought by ‘Pablo,” Secretary Soliman said that relief operations must be continuous, timely and consistent to the needs of the 176,617 families recorded to be affected by the typhoon in Region XI alone. Further, she added that DSWD will provide noche Buena packs to the victims to share the spirit of Christmas.
Secretary Soliman also said that DSWD is also facilitating the construction of bunkhouses in seven severely affected areas, namely Compostela, Monkayo, Montevista and New Bataan in Compostela Valley; and Baganga, Boston and Cateel in Davao Oriental. The bunkhouses will be finished within December.
Volunteers
Given the daunting task of speedy provision of relief items, DSWD Field Office XI is calling for more volunteers to help in the repacking of goods. Volunteers in Davao may get in touch with DSWD Regional Office at telephone nos (082) 227-1964 or through mobile hotline numbers 0917-6429366 (Globe), 0928-8681532 (Smart) and 0922-7710061 (Sun).
Repacking of goods is also on-going at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) at the NAIA Chapel Road, Pasay City (beside Airport Police Department and back of Air Transportation Office). Volunteers may get in touch with Ms. Francia Fabian at telephone numbers 8528081, 8512681.
Happy day for evacuees
Meanwhile, as part of the therapy and stress debriefing of evacuees, social workers who lead in camp management conduct socialization for the evacuees and play therapy for children.
“Aside from taking care of the food needs of the evacuees, our social workers will also conduct stress debriefing to the affected families to lessen the impact of the disaster and to ensure their normal functioning. The DSWD is now preparing to deploy stress debriefers to the affected areas,” Secretary Soliman ended. ###
