Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the agency’s top management of its Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) to ensure the full automation of the inventory management of the Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC), which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced in his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) as “the central hub for the government’s disaster response effort.”

“We have to perfect the DRCC automation of the inventory management or the Automated Data Management System for Inventory.  Basta ang importante, naka-preposition tayo with an aggressive digitalized system for inventory,” Secretary Gatchalian instructed the DRMG officials shortly after the SONA last Monday (July 22).

Secretary Gatchalian stressed that the prepositioning of relief goods is an innovation of President Marcos.

“This is the vision of the President. We just put this into action.  It was started by then Secretary Erwin Tulfo and we built on it,” the DSWD chief earlier said in a pre-SONA interview with the Peoples Television Network..

In his 3rd SONA, President Marcos acknowledged that the government has established infrastructures that serve as protection and center for coordination, especially along the delivery of services and relief goods.

“Within the past two years, almost a hundred evacuation centers have already been built. While in January of this year, we started the operations of our Disaster Response Command Center, which shall serve as the central hub for the government’s disaster response efforts,” the  President said.

Since its launch in January,  the DRCC stands as a central hub for disaster monitoring, reporting, and coordination of preparedness and response efforts.

The DRCC utilizes advance information and communication equipment/assets to ensure the seamless collaboration between the DSWD Central Office, DSWD Field Offices (FOs), member-agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and other stakeholders.

Secretary Gatchalian said the DRCC is reinforced by the Mobile Command Centers (MCCs), which  bridge the communication gap during disaster or emergency operations by providing linkage from the disaster-stricken area to the Regional Operations Center (ROC), Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC), or the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC).

Each MCC is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite internet, gadgets, and generators that can be used as a source of power supply and internet connection for communities in disaster areas.

“This means that it can help a lot of affected residents to connect with their loved ones when the power supply in their area is down,” the DSWD Secretary said.

Aside from aiming to fully automate the DRCC, Secretary Gatchalian also ordered the DRMG to perfect the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) program of the Department.

“The BBH has to be perfected. This BBH program was built for any type of disaster, man-made or natural,” Secretary Gatchalian emphasized.

The BBH Project establishes two parallel supply chain mechanisms for disaster preparedness and response which enhance the capacity of the Department in meeting the needs of affected families in various disaster-stricken areas.

The first mechanism features a national and local government-driven supply chain that improves the production capacities and processes of the DSWD’s National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City, the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Cebu, and the warehouse and storage facilities across the 16 DSWD FOs.

For the second mechanism, the Department forges partnerships with established large and small groceries, supermarkets, manufacturers, and distributors to leverage on their technical expertise and resources to create a private sector-driven supply chain.

Under these partnerships, the DSWD aims to achieve a more effective and reliable supply chain, ensuring comprehensive coverage and timely assistance to affected families in all disaster-affected areas.

The DRCC, MCCs, and the BBH Project are now being fully utilized by the DSWD during disasters, especially during the Mt. Kanlaon eruption in June.#