Country: Philippines Source: Government of the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered all DSWD Field Office (FO) regional directors in Mindanao to immediately coordinate with local government units (LGUs) affected by the 7. 8-magnitude earthquake that struck the province of Sarangani and other areas in Mindanao on Monday morning (June 8). “Kasunod ng magnitude 7 na lindol na naramdaman sa Sarangani, General Santos City, at mga kalapit na lugar, nakaantabay ang DSWD Field Office 12 at inihahanda na ang mga kinakailangang response assets, ” Secretary Gatchalian said. According to the DSWD chief, the DSWD has over 1. 1 million boxes of family food packs (FFPs) in Mindanao alone available for augmentation to affected families and individuals. The DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) has reported that as of June 2, there are 4. 7 million FFPs prepositioned nationwide and are available for immediate release during disaster and emergencies. In compliance with the instructions of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. , the DSWD chief directed all FOs to prepare for logistic and manpower resources for deployment. “Gaya ng sabi ng ating Pangulo, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. , ‘we will not leave Mindanao behind’. Sinisiguro po natin na agad tayong makakapagpadala ng tulong dahil mayroon tayong sapat na FFPs na nakalagak sa iba’t ibang warehouses natin sa Mindanao, ” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out. Secretary Gatchalian said the Quick Response Teams (QRTs) of DSWD FOs are on standby and continuously monitoring and coordinating with LGUs for possible resource augmentation. “DSWD is more than ready to provide immediate response by supporting the needs of the affected families in the entire Mindanao. In fact, we have directed all Field Offices to coordinate closely with the LGUs and deploy social workers in designated evacuation centers to work with the local social workers, ” Secretary Gatchalian said. The DSWD chief said the concerned FOs have been directed to deploy their mobile command centers, mobile kitchens, and other needed equipment and resources. “Nakahanda na rin ang ating Quick Response Team at patuloy ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa LGU para sa posibleng pagde-deploy ng mobile command center at mobile kitchen kung kinakailangan, ” the DSWD chief said. The DSWD also warned the public to closely monitor and coordinate with their respective LGUs to locate the nearest evacuation center, as aftershocks are expected and there is a tsunami warning. “Patuloy nating mino-monitor ang sitwasyon upang matiyak na agad na maihahatid ang tulong sa mga maaapektuhang komunidad, ” Secretary Gatchalian said. (YADP)
Philippines: DSWD chief orders immediate aid to quake-affected families in Sarangani; Field Offices ready to respond to the needs of Mindanaoans
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