The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) today said that local government units (LGUs) are now more prepared in dealing with disasters.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman commended how the affected LGUs, such as those in the Bicol Region, implemented pre-emptive evacuation, hence, they achieved zero casualty in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte.
Sec. Soliman said that pre-emptive evacuation is the key to preventing loss of lives, and 95% of the affected LGUs were able to do this.
She cited that in Region V and the National Capital Region (NCR), 77,000 families immediately went to the different evacuation centers prior to the landfall of the typhoon.
Pre-emptive evacuation means that the LGUs evacuated the families in coastal areas and danger zones even before Typhoon Glenda hit their areas.
Evacuation centers
As of 4 p.m. today, 1,255 evacuation centers remain open housing 100,942 families or 531,282 individuals. At the height of ‘Glenda’, some 1,422 evacuation centers were opened to accommodate the evacuees.
Meanwhile, all five evacuation centers in Tacloban City have been closed including the one in the Astrodome.
Food packs
To date, DSWD has provided a total of 29,880 food packs to augment the relief resources of LGUs affected by ‘Glenda’ for the evacuees and families staying in their relatives’ or friends’ houses.
The Department has also prepositioned a total of 135,508 food packs in NCR, Regions III, IVA, IV-B, V, VII, VIII, and at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC).
Moreover, 1,924,405 pieces of assorted food items such as, noodles, bottled water, biscuits, sugar, coffee and canned goods in packs, pieces, and boxes, and 541,185 non-food items, like clothes, blankets, sleeping and plastic mats, water jugs, raincoats, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, and folding beds are available in the regions and in NROC.
DSWD said that it is not yet calling for volunteers since the relief goods have already been repacked in the different regions and at NROC.
Sec. Soliman also said that those who would want to donate can just forge partnership with the LGUs since they are the first responders.
