Cordillera Administrative Region- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here has started to place measures ensuring the readiness of the Field Office to respond to the possible effects of the COVID-19 UK variant in the Region.

“We have already activated our Quick Response Teams here in the region and in the provinces to monitor the communities placed under a stricter quarantine classification following the report that the Region will be placed under General Community Quarantine”, DSWD Field Office CAR OIC Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

DSWD Quick Response Teams will be closely coordinating with various local government units through their Local Social Welfare and Development Offices to look into communities that might need assistance as a result of community lockdowns being implemented to mitigate the spread of the new COVID-19 variant.

“As early as 25 January 2021, we have already provided augmentation to Mountain Province and Kalinga through the provision of family food packs, and non-food items such as hygiene and family kits”, Director Quintilla added.

As of 28 January 2021, a total of 6,318 family food packs and 22 non-food items have been hauled to Mountain Province and 3,000 family food packs to Kalinga.

In Mountain Province, DSWD FO CAR has provided 677 family food packs to Brgy. Caluttit, 913 in Brgy. Samoki, 983 in Brgy. Poblacion, and 1,489 in Brgy. Bontoc Ili.

The Field Office is currently maintaining a total of 10,646 family food packs worth PhP 5,595,484.75. Additional 10,000 family food packs from the DSWD National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau are expected to be delivered to the Region. These can be used to provide augmentation local government units with communities that might need the family food packs.

Aside from the family food packs, the DSWD FO CAR is maintaining 1,144 family kits, 1,862 sleeping kits, 21 family tents, and 320 hygiene kits.

“We are continuously monitoring the situation on ground. We are also doing our best to ensure that there are enough supplies in case our local government units request for augmentation. DSWD FO CAR personnel are currently preparing additional family food packs”, Director Quintilla said.

Interested volunteers and donors may directly coordinate with DSWD through (074) 661-04-30 or cbs.focar@dswd.gov.ph.#DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva-Trinidad