The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) met with its international partners to map out ways to effectively provide assistance to the families affected by typhoon Odette and further strengthen the country’s disaster response operations.
The DSWD,through its Field Office in Caraga, met on Dec. 20 with the response team members of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines and the United Nations Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to discuss ways on how to efficiently deliver aid to families hit by Odette in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.
“The meeting focused on how the international partners will be able to provide aid to affected communities, particularly in terms of food security, health and nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene, shelter, logistics, and child and women protection,” it said in a statement.
It was DSWD Field Office Caraga Regional Director Ramel Jamen who met with response team members of the IOM Philippines and UN OCHA.
“Aside from partnerships with private organizations to strengthen disaster response, the DSWD also continues its provision of assistance to families affected by “Odette” through the local government units (LGUs),” the DSWD said.
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Meanwhile, the DSWD reported it has provided augmentation aid worth more than P23 million to LGUs in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, and Caraga.
The LGUs provided more than P13 million to their affected constituents, it said.
“The DSWD is also holding repacking activities and facilitating the delivery of family food packs (FFPs) as resource augmentation to severely affected LGUs.”
The Social Welfare department said 850 FFPs were delivered to Siargao Island via C-130 planes on Dec. 20.
In Eastern Visayas, the municipalities of Dulag and Tacloban City received 1,475 FFPs from DSWD FO VIII.
“In addition, the FO also provided 608 FFPs in Silago; 1,700 FFPs in Hinundayan; 2,600 FFPs in Hinunangan; 2,900 FFPs in Sogod; 1,000 FFPs in Maasis; 1,000 FFPs in Liloan; and 1,000 FFPs in Limasawa – all from the province of Southern Leyte,” the DSWD said.
Various affected municipalities in Central Visayas also got FFPs from DSWD FO VII. The distribution of the FFPS is as follows: 2,000 for Loboc, Bohol; 2,000 for Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol; 1,300 for Manjuyod, Negros Oriental; 100 for Tayasan, Negros Oriental; and, 50 for Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
The DSWD said the FO VII’s delivery of 9,000 FFPs to Lapu-Lapu City, Sibonga, Argao, Santa Fe, Carcar, and Barili in Cebu was also expected
Sibonga, Cebu will also receive 2,000 hygiene kits from the DSWD.
“The amount of assistance delivered to affected LGUs may increase by the time the DSWD Central Office receives the data and other necessary reports from Field Offices which are currently having problems with communication lines, internet connectivity, electricity, and mobility.”
“Despite this issue, the DSWD will continue to provide updates on the government’s response to Typhoon Odette-affected families.”