DSWD MINDANAO FIELD OFFICES ON QUICK RESPONSE, ROUND-THE-CLOCK MODE TO PROVIDE AID TO FLOOD-AFFECTED FAMILIES

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Demonstrating its commitment to extend immediate relief, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) field offices in Mindanao have been in quick response mode as several provinces, including those in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), experienced flooding this July due to heavy rains brought about by the southwest monsoon.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has directed the regional directors in SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) and the Zamboanga Peninsula to use the prepositioned family food packs (FFPs) for the families affected by the flooding.

He also ordered the immediate dispatch of FFPs for augmentation to the supply of the two DSWD regional offices.

Both the DSWD’s Field Office 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN) and Field Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) have received their augmentation FFPs which have been dispatched to the BARMM’s flood-affected provinces that include Maguindanao del Norte (12,518 affected families); Maguindanao del Sur (45,117 families); Lanao del Sur (4,874 families) and 13,045 affected families in the “special geographic area.”

“In line with the directive of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, we continue to coordinate with the concerned LGUs to determine the actual extent of the weather disturbance and to identify other interventions that can be provided to the affected families to ensure that they can cope with the effects of the southwest monsoon,” DSWD Asst. Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Irene Dumlao, who is also the agency spokesperson, said on Sunday (July 14).

Intensified relief operations were being conducted round-the-clock by the DSWD SOCCSKSARGEN regional office through its Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD).

The Field Office 12’s DRMD promptly conducted validation and assessment operations in response to the heavy rains and subsequent flooding affecting several areas in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani on Saturday (July 13).

“Simultaneous validation and assessment activities were also being carried out in the municipalities of Kiamba and Maitum in Sarangani, as well as in Lebak, Kalamansig, and Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat,” SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Director Loreto Cabaya said in his report to the DRMG.

To date, Field Office 12’s DRMD teams have successfully distributed a total of 3,983 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) to affected families in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte.

“As of Friday (July 12), 1,660 FFPs were distributed to families in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur, 823 FFPs in Kapatagan, while another 1,500 FFPs were provided to families in Matanog, Maguindanao del Norte. This immediate relief effort is part of the DSWD 12’s ongoing commitment to support communities in times of crisis,” Cabaya said.

The distributed FFPs contain essential food items, including rice, canned goods, coffee, and other necessities, designed to help sustain families during this difficult period.

 “The DSWD 12 is dedicated to providing timely and efficient aid to our communities in distress. We are working closely with local government units and other partners to ensure that assistance reaches those in need as quickly as possible,” Cabaya also claimed.

Dumlao assured the affected LGUs that the agency has enough relief supplies to augment their resources for their constituents.

“We have already provided more than Php2.5 million in relief aid, from the combined resources of the DSWD Field Office-9, LGUs, and non-government organizations, to the affected families,” the DSWD spokesperson said.

Based on the July 13 report of DSWD Field Office-9, some 5,092 families or 18,875 individuals from 30 barangays in Zamboanga Del Norte and Zamboanga Del Sur were affected by the continuous heavy downpour and flooding incidents.

Of this number 4,842 families or 17,941 persons are currently staying in evacuation centers set up by the LGUs. 

Being the chair of the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCAM) Cluster of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), DSWD personnel are assisting the LGUs in managing these temporary shelters.

More than 200 families or 900 individuals are outside evacuation centers but are being provided with relief assistance.

To date, the DSWD Zamboanga Peninsula has more than Php115 million in relief and standby funds that can be readily tapped as necessary.

(el Amigo/mnm)