DSWD Synchronized Disaster Response Among Field Offices
DSWD Assures Nationwide Disaster Preparedness amid Tropical Storm Crising and Habagat
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MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Growth (DSWD) has affirmed itS readiness to provide synchronized disaster response across all its field offices nationwide, as the country braces for the combined impact of Tropical Storm Crising and the prevailing southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat.”
DSWD Secretary Highlights Preparedness During Presidential Visit
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian provided this assurance on Friday during a visit by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to the DSWD’s National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City. The visit underscored the goverment’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of citizens facing potential weather-related calamities.
“Because of the typhoon Crising, the north will be hit, but the monsoon is on the west side of the Philippines,” Secretary Gatchalian explained. “So,it is indeed vital to respond to our field offices simultaneously occurring as the North,while the West is in the west side of the Philippines.” This statement emphasizes the strategic importance of a coordinated, multi-faceted response to address the distinct impacts of both weather systems.
Relief Aid and Prepositioned Supplies Ready for Distribution
The DSWD chief confirmed that all field offices are fully equipped and prepared to extend immediate relief aid to families expected to be most affected by the dual weather threats.this proactive stance is crucial in mitigating the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities.
Current reports from the Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Interaction (DROMIC) indicate that a meaningful number of families have already been impacted by heavy rains. Specifically, 5,022 families, comprising 17,694 individuals across 142 barangays in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula, have experienced the brunt of the adverse weather.
In response to these initial impacts, the DSWD has already mobilized resources, distributing PHP744,539 worth of essential relief items.This includes family food packs (FFPs) and non-food items (NFIs) distributed to 1,000 disaster-affected families in Antique,25 in Capiz,and 177 in Negros occidental,all located in the Western Visayas region.
Quick Response Teams and Logistics on Standby
To ensure swift and effective assistance, members of the DSWD Field Offices’ Quick Response Teams (QRTs) are on high alert. Alongside these dedicated teams, crucial emergency logistics equipment has been placed on standby for immediate deployment as needed, notably in the regions identified as most vulnerable: Mimaropa, western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
Secretary Gatchalian further highlighted the agency’s robust logistical preparations, stating that over 3 million boxes of ffps have been strategically prepositioned in anticipation of Tropical Storm Crising. Production of these vital food packs continues unabated at the DSWD’s primary disaster hubs: the NROC in Pasay City and the Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City,Cebu.Beyond immediate relief, the DSWD is also prepared to disburse financial aid to support affected families with their other pressing needs and to facilitate their early recovery process. This comprehensive approach underscores the DSWD’s commitment to not only providing immediate succor but also fostering resilience and aiding in the long-term recovery of communities impacted by disasters.