Cordillera Administrative Region– The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here continues to provide resource augmentation and technical assistance to various local government units as the region readies for possible calamities that might affect the Cordilleras.
As mandated by Executive Order No. 15, series of 1998, DSWD as a national government agency should assist to local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), peoples’ organizations (POs), and other stakeholders for the effective implementation of social welfare and development. The Department should also act as an enabler of these stakeholders through technical assistance.
“Republic Act 10121 highlights the role of our LGUs in disaster response and management as the frontline service provider. We, in the DSWD, are ready to provide the necessary assistance and augmentation for our LGUs to be fully capacitated to fulfill this role”, DSWD-CAR OIC- Regional Director Janet P. Armas said.
Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act of 2010 states that the provincial, city or municipal DRRM office shall “respond to and manage the adverse effects of emergencies and carry out recovery activities in the affected area, ensuring that there is an efficient mechanism for immediate delivery of food, shelter and medical supplies for women and children, endeavor to create a special place where internally-displaced mothers can find help with breastfeeding, feed and care for their babies and give support to each other”.
Meanwhile, as of 12 NN of 3 October 2018, DSWD-CAR has released a total of PhP 24,418,946.65 worth of assistance to the affected families and individuals in the region. The LGUs have provided PhP 16,786,570.25 worth of assistance while non-government organizations and other donors provided PhP 2,950,887.00 worth of assistance. A total of PhP 44,156,404.30 worth of assistance is provided to 102,371 affected families composed of 399,406 individuals.
Aside from the continuous provision of assistance to the LGU of Benguet, DSWD-CAR is also preparing for possible augmentation to the LGUs as Typhoon Queenie threatens to bring rains in the region.
As of 1 October 2018, DSWD-CAR has 8,374 family food packs (FFPs), 2,230 family kits, 1,812 hygiene kits and 3,312 sleeping kits prepositioned at the DSWD- CAR Warehouse. Meanwhile, 40,400 FFPs, 3,850 family kits, 3,850 hygiene kits and 3,850 sleeping kits have also been prepositioned to the different Local Government Units in the region.
“We would like to commend our partners who have exerted their effort to provide services to their communities in times of disaster. May we continue to work together not just in response but in preparing for the possible effects of any calamity or incident that we might encounter”, Director Armas said.
By Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
