Amid the devastations wrought by the Habagat or monsoon rains over the past few weeks, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Virginia N. Orogo went to some provinces of Region 3 over the weekend to personally assess the situation of affected families, and to provide augmentation support to the local government units.

Sec. Orogo who was joined by Undersecretary Franciso Domagoso, Assistant Secretary Glenda Relova, and Field Office III Director Gemma Gabuya, reiterated that local government units (LGUs) are the first responders in times of disasters, as specified in the Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act 7160 and Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. As first responders, they should ensure that disaster-related efforts, from pre-emptive evacuation to the restoration of their constituents’ livelihood, are done.

The Local Government Code also stipulates that LGUs have the responsibility to undertake rescue operations, provide immediate relief assistance, and set-up and manage evacuation centers at the first instance of disaster occurrence.

Sec. Orogo, however,  clarified that while LGUs are the first responders, DSWD can still provide augmentation support in terms of food and non-food resources as well as manpower, especially in large-scale disasters.

The Secretary expounded that DSWD augmentations are based on the requests of LGUs and the corresponding assessment of Field Offices. The Department continues to provide assistance so long as there are needs.

Sec. Orogo and the DSWD team comprising some employees from Central Office and the Field Office visited evacuation centers in Apalit, Pampanga; Calumpit, Bulacan; and, Balanga City, Bataan.

In her message to the affected families in Balanga, Bataan, Sec. Orogo stated. “kami po ay nagtungo dito sa inyong bayan hindi upang sitahin ang inyung lokal na pamahalaan kundi upang personal na alamin ang inyong kalagayan at kung ano pang serbisyo ang puwede pa naming maitulong (We came here to your town, not to castigate your local officials, but to personally see and to determine other services that we can extend).”

The DSWD team also assisted the LGUs in distributing relief goods to the affected families.

Based on the July 30, 7pm report of the DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center  (DROMIC),  some  6,949 families or 26,938 persons are currently staying in 153 evacuation centers in Regions NCR, I, III and CAR.

A total of ₱70,799,271.84 worth of assistance has been provided to the affected families; ₱45,026,679.43 of which came from DSWD, ₱24,819,587.41 came from the LGUs, ₱884,105.00 from the NGOs, while ₱68,900.00 came from other contributing parties###