The devastation brought by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake which shook Central Visayas on October 15, showed the strong partnership and coordination of the national government and local government units in times of disasters.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) readily assisted the affected local government units (LGUs), working round the clock to bring immediate relief to the shaken communities.
The DSWD, in coordination with the LGUs, specifically the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers (MSWDO) of the affected towns closely monitored the situation, provided relief goods, and deployed stress debriefers and counselors for the grieving families.
Grateful for the quick response
In the municipality of Bilar, the LGU was quick in responding to the needs of the people in Barangay Bonifacio, which was hit hard by the tremor. DSWD was equally fast in identifying the different evacuation sites and providing relief goods to affected families.
“Nakahatag dayon ug relief ang ang munisipyo pagka hapon dayon ug padayun lang jud ang ayuda handtod karon (The municipality has provided us relief goods on the afternoon of the first day, and relief goods are continually coming in even now),” said Lorena Lasive, a resident of Barangay Bonifacio. Her family has been staying at the evacuation site in the barangay since the first day after the earthquake.
Gemma Sumampong, another survivor also expressed her gratitude to DSWD and their local officials.
“Dako pud kog pasalamat sa DSWD ug sa ubang mga tawo nga muanhi diri halos kada adlaw ug muhatag ug makaon mao ng nabuhi mi sa pito ka niaging adlaw (I am also thankful to DSWD and to our LGU who come here almost everyday and give us food to eat),” she narrated.
DSWD also provided laminated plastic tents at the evacuation site in Barangay Bonifacio. Each tent can accommodate two to three families. Josefa Sinco, 74, was thankful to DSWD and LGUs for these.
“Nahurot na ang baligya nga laminated sacks sa merkado ug katong among ginagamit namo sa una kay dili na maayo labi na kung muulan (There were no available laminated sacks in the market and what we were using before were already tattered and would not protect us from the elements),” she explained.
A total of 3,419 families or 17,098 individuals were affected in the town of Bilar, four died and eight were injured.
As of October 29, DSWD recorded a total of 17,793 families staying in 371 evacuation centers in Bohol.
While continuing its relief efforts, DSWD in partnership with the LGUs, local, and international humanitarian groups are now working on the rehabilitation and recovery efforts. ###
