Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano- Soliman, together with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, was in La Union yesterday  to check on the status of families affected by Tropical Storm Egay.

Local government executives of San Juan, Bacnotan, and Bauang briefed the two secretaries on the on-going disaster operations in their respective areas.  The two secretaries subsequently provided recommendations on how to go about rescue, relief, recovery, and rehabilitation of the affected families.

After the briefing, the team proceeded to San Fernando North Central School to meet the affected families and to distribute relief goods.

Sec. Soliman assured  the availability of  30,000 family food packs to be distributed to affected families in the region.

The relief goods will help the typhoon victims meet their basic needs since regular income-earning activities were disrupted and they are still recovering from the effects of the storm.

Within the week, DSWD will also be coordinating with its local counterparts to prepare project proposals for the implementation of Cash for Work projects  to  clean up affected communities.

The local chief executives also requested for the restoration of eroded slopes, desiltation of water tributaries, purchase of generator sets, and the availability of  vehicles from the Philippine National Police.

DSWD-Field Office I Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo said that members of the Quick Response Team (QRT) will continue to coordinate with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) on distribution of relief augmentation and assessment of needs of affected families.

He added that volunteers continue to flock to the Field Office warehouse to help in the repacking of food packs. ###