The Department of Social Welfare and Development intensifies its relief efforts for victims of the 7.2 magnitude ‘earthquake’ which shook Central Visayas on October 15.

 The DSWD team went to the different devastated areas in Bohol to distribute relief goods in hard-to-reach areas. In Loon, Bohol, some 1,850 food packs, 5,000 bottles of water (5.6 litters per bottle) and 25 tents were distributed for the affected families. Likewise, some 249 families from Barangay Napo, also in Loon, Bohol received relief goods.

 The DSWD also provided some 10,310 food packs to affected families in Antequera, Calape, Carmen, Catigbian, Loon, Maribojoc, Panglao, San Isidro,Tagbilaran, and Tubigon.

“Boholanon’s from all walks of life are staying outside their damaged houses for fear of aftershocks. Residents from Carmen, Maribojoc, Loon, Canape, and Antiquiera are clamoring for tents because with tents, no debris would fall on their heads during strong tremors,” DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman said.

 Meanwhile, DSWD Field Office VII (Central Visayas) deployed 19 teams comprising of social workers and municipal links yesterday morning to augment the disaster-response operations in the earthquake affected areas in Bohol.

 “Seeing the wide scope of the affected areas in Bohol, DSWD fielded staff coming from Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor to augment in the operations,” said social worker Grace Yana.

 Closely coordinating with the affected Local Government Units, the DSWD has provided relief goods to 19 towns in Bohol including Tagbilaran City. Secretary Soliman assured that the relief operation will continue until normalcy returns to all towns.

 “We have assigned a team in each affected LGU who will perform data gathering and reporting; distribution of relief goods in coordination with the Local Social Welfare Development Office or with the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council; and, management of evacuation centers,” Yana added.

 The deployed teams will also provide psycho-social support to affected families and individuals to lessen the trauma they have experienced.

 Meanwhile, DSWD has also put up an additional operations center in the town of Tubigon which will send out relief goods, receive and manage volunteers, donations and other assistance, and to provide updates on the extent of the the disaster.

 Urgent needs of the quake victims are food, mats, tarpaulin, water, blankets, tents, medicines, mosquito nets, generators, hygiene kits and kitchen wares.

 As of 12 noon, October 19, a total of P5,857,128.00 worth of 21,124 family food packs and other relief goods (other food and non-food items) were provided to the affected LGUs of Bohol. Earlier this week, the DSWD released the amount of P10 million to DSWD-FO VII for purchase of relief goods for the affected population, as well as for the operational expenses in the disaster operations.

Currently, 90 evacuation centers are serving 22,004 families with 108,867 persons. A total of 57,005 other families with 263,648 persons are outside the evacuation centers or in open spaces.

Bohol has 65 evacuation centers temporarily housing 20,995 families with 103,478 persons while 55,625 with 256,758 persons are staying outside the centers.

Cebu has 25 evacuation centers with 1,009 families or 5,439 persons while 1,379 families with 6,888 persons are outside evacuation centers. 

The DSWD continues to coordinate with the LGUs especially those in isolated areas for the immediate delivery of relief goods.  ###