The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government units (LGUs) along the path of Tropical Storm Haiyan are now undertaking preparedness measures to caution the possible impact of the storm which is expected to become as supertyphoon once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday.
To be called ‘Yolanda’ once reaches PAR, DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman emphasized that Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (MSWDOs) “should be well prepared to deal with its effects.”
Secretary Soliman has instructed all DSWD offices in Regions IV-B, V, VI, VII and VIII to intensify their coordination with the MSWDOs.
She said that DSWD Field Offices are ready to assist the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Monitoring Councils (MDRRMCs) in undertaking pre-emptive evacuation of families in hazardous areas.
She also advised the MDRRMCs to already identify evacuation centers and ensure that these are sturdy by reinforcing the roofs. She stressed that evacuation centers should not be in an area where a landslide or flashflood can happen.
DSWD has prepositioned P192.7 million-worth of emergency relief resources that include P34 million standby funds, 84,703 family food packs amounting to P21.9 million, and other food and non-food items (NFIs) at P136.7 million for the regions within the typhoon path.
Repacking of additional 25,000 family food packs is ongoing at the DSWD-National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City.
Also part of the preparedness initiatives of the Department is the activation of the Quick Response Teams (QRTs) at the national and regional levels, and the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) teams at provincial level. Likewise being mobilized are the provincial, municipal and city links of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program detailed at the LGUs.
DSWD is also coordinating with different partners for the land, air and sea transport of relief resources.
Other relief ops
DSWD continues to assist the 169 families affected by the tornado which struck 13 barangays in the municipalities of Oton and Pavia in Iloilo on November 4.
The affected families are temporarily staying at their relatives and friends’ houses and continue to receive relief goods.
Typhoon Wilma on the other hand was monitored to have affected a total of 1,374 families composed of 6,068 persons from Bohol and Cebu.
To date, only the evacuation center, which is in Antequera in Bohol, is still open sheltering 26 families with 130 persons. All others have returned to their respective homes after the floodwaters subsided.
Some 113 families or 565 persons in Cebu are still in their friends and relatives’ houses, but are still being assisted by DSWD. ###
