DSWD CHIEF AIMS TO PERFECT AUTOMATION OF AGENCY’S DISASTER RESPONSE COMMAND CENTER

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the agency’s top management of its Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) to ensure the full automation of the inventory management of the Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC).

“We have to perfect the DRCC automation of the inventory management or the Automated Data Management System for Inventory.  Basta ang importante, naka-preposition [relief goods] tayo with an aggressive digitalized system for inventory,” Gatchalian instructed the DRMG officials shortly after the SONA last Monday.

The DSWD chief stressed that the prepositioning of relief goods is an innovation of President Marcos.

“This is the vision of the President. We just put this [prepositioning] into action.  It was started by then Secretary Erwin Tulfo and we built on it,” Gatchalian earlier said in a pre-SONA interview with the Peoples Television Network..

In his 3rd SONA, the President acknowledged that the government has established infrastructures that serve as protection and center for coordination, especially along the delivery of services and relief goods.

“Within the past two years, almost a hundred evacuation centers have already been built. While in January of this year, we started the operations of our Disaster Response Command Center, which shall serve as the central hub for the government’s disaster response efforts,” the  President said.

Since its launch in January,  the DRCC stands as a central hub for disaster monitoring, reporting, and coordination of preparedness and response efforts.

The DRCC utilizes advance information and communication equipment/assets to ensure the seamless collaboration between the DSWD Central Office, DSWD Field Offices (FOs), member-agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and other stakeholders.

Gatchalian said the DRCC is reinforced by the Mobile Command Centers (MCCs), which  bridge the communication gap during disaster or emergency operations by providing linkage from the disaster-stricken area to the Regional Operations Center (ROC), Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC), or the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC).

Each MCC is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite internet, gadgets, and generators that can be used as a source of power supply and internet connection for communities in disaster areas.

“This means that it can help a lot of affected residents to connect with their loved ones when the power supply in their area is down,” Gatchalian said.