The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) welcomes volunteers in order to help replenish its relief supplies at its various warehouses in the aftermath of Typhoon Carina and ‘Habagat’.

“ Yes, ang call for volunteers ay tuloy pa rin, not for Typhoon Carina, but for DSWD hubs and spokes para po i-replenish na ang 100 percent maximum capacity ng ating mga warehouses around the country,” said Special Asst. to the Secretary (SAS) for Disaster Response Management Maria Isabel Lanada, PhD.

“Kayat, sa ating mga kababayan na gustong maging productive ngayong tag-ulan at walang pasok, pwede po kayong maki-pag coordinate sa NROC,” SAS Lanada said during the DSWD Media Briefing on the Relief Operations for Typhoon Carina and Habagat on Thursday (July 25) at the Central Office in Quezon City.

The NROC or the National Resource Operations Center is the main disaster response hub of the DSWD. It is located along Chapel Road in Pasay City.

Special Asst. to the Secretary (SAS) for Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) and Concurrent Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) Leo Quintilla, who was also one of the speakers at the media briefing, affirmed the importance of volunteers for NROC.

“Yes, the call for volunteers is very important. We welcome volunteers. Experience namin is mga grupo from the media, motorcycle clubs, bankers, private companies ang tumutulong sa atin. Half day or one day of volunteer work. Alam natin na volunteer work is a means to wellness, ang feeling na nakatulong,” SAS Quintilla told reporters.

The DSWD official explained that volunteers should be above 18 years old, healthy and willing to do work at the warehouse such as bundling of food supplies, forming boxes, and packing.

Before the deployment, SAS Quintilla said a short orientation is given to the volunteers so they will know how to conduct themselves within the NROC premises.

“We also aim for quality work, so tinuturo namin kung paano maglagay ng bigas, de lata sa mga boxes,” SAS Quintilla pointed out.

SAS Quintilla also narrated his ‘beautiful’ experience with volunteers.

“Once, may mga students ako na nag-volunteer work, hindi lang ung mga food packs ang nilalagay nila sa boxes but they also put notes, notes of motivation. So yung makaka-receive ng foodpacks, hindi lang pagkain ang nareceive niya pati na rin message from a volunteer na nagsasabing dadaan lang ito but we are a resilient people,” SAS Quintilla said.

The NLRMB Director said DSWD personnel also volunteered at the NROC at the height of the heavy downpour on Wednesday (July 24) since work was suspended.

Those interested to volunteer may contact, Ms. Shara Lee of the DSWD-National Resource Operations Center (NROC) at mobile number 09260612646 and email address, msllee@dswd.gov.ph for scheduling.

SAS Quintilla explained that scheduling is very critical so as not to crowd the work area.

“We also need to limit the number of volunteers because limited din ang space. Very critical din kasi ang movement within our warehouses kasi may mga heavy equipment din kami, like forklift. We need to also support our volunteers,” SAS Quintilla explained.

On July 24, there were more than 100 volunteers at the NROC and around 200 on July 25, according to SAS Quintilla.#