Conner, Apayao- Moving towards strengthening its disaster preparedness and response operations, on 28 March 2023, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office CAR forged a deed of donation together with the municipalities of Conner and Luna in the province of Apayao.
Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla personally participated and accepted the donation of the two (2) towns adding the donated lot is intended for the purposes a warehouse and SWAD extension office.
“The DSWD Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region accepts the donation of LGU Conner that is 2,000 square meter lot for the purpose of the warehouse and SWAD Extension office. Thank you very much to LGU Conner. This is also part of our inter-regional operability. The warehouse of the DSWD will not only serve the two municipalities, immediately we can provide the necessary support augmentation to other LGUs,” he added.
The warehouse will not only house family food packs but this will also include non-food items such as hygiene kit, kitchen kit, family kit, sleeping kit, family tents, modular tents, and laminated sacks.
With the two lot donated to the Field Office, Dir. Quintilla said this in-line with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s important directives which is to create the hubs in disaster operations.
Quintilla added that the suitable spaces for the warehouses of the Field Office will benefit the people residing in the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas or GIDA.
Apayao Congressperson Eleanor Bulut-Begtang in her keynote message, during the turn over ceremony recalled their past experiences and challenges during disasters in the province of Apayao. She also lauded the swift response and efforts of the DSWD Field Office CAR during its disaster response operations.
She also highlighted in times of disaster the importance of having close coordination with all agencies starting from the barangay level up to the national government. The Solon also remains bullish that on the following year a warehouse will soon to rise in the province.
“We are happy ang bilis response ng LGU Conner, agad agad may site sila and this is one example of how responsive an LGU is. We will try our best together with our Mayor and Regional Director to source some funds for this. I experience working with all of you when I was still Governor and this is among very challenging years of the province in terms of disasters. That was the time andaming flooding in the province of Apayao and we also have this pandemic, but it was DSWD who really helped us a lot, napakabilis ng response,” she said.
Also participating the signing of the deed of donation in Conner is Mayor Jorico F. Bayua. He said the initiative to have a warehouse to cater to the entire towns of Upper Apayao will be a great help to the people of Apayao.
An hour and a half ride from Conner, is the town of Luna where the Field Office also participated in a signing of deed of donation in the said municipality attended by Regional Director Quintilla, Apayao Vice Governor Remy N. Albano, Luna Mayor Josephine Bangsil together with the Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members.
In their message, they hope for a good partnership anew of the LGU Luna and DSWD Field Office CAR stating the establishment of the warehouse and DSWD Office will secure a closer access to warehouse facility with the needed food and non-food items during disasters. # DSWD FIELD OFFICE CAR SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT LAUREN A. ALIMONDO, DRMD Information Officer
