Cordillera Administrative Region- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here has intensified its efforts on its disaster operations as TY Ompong continue to threaten the region.
“We have already laid down mechanisms for our operations due to the threat of Typhoon Ompong. This includes prepositioning of goods, setting-up of communication equipment and sending staff augmentation in all the provinces”, DSWD-CAR OIC- Regional Director Janet P. Armas said.
On 14 September 2018, the DSWD-CAR with some representatives from the DSWD Central Office, conducted a meeting that focused on the actions that will be taken by the DSWD-CAR in response to the possible effects of TY Ompong.
“We are not only preparing for the typhoon by providing relief items, but we have also capacitated our personnel by providing information on the current status of our operations, orientation on camp coordination and management, and setting-up of state-of-the-art satellite telecommunications equipment which we can use for our disaster operations.”, Director Armas said.
CAR is one of the five areas in the Philippines that have received the telecommunications equipment from Inmarsat. The equipment can provide internet signal and enable communication even without telecommunication signal.
“Our Rapid Emergency Telecommunications Teams are now deployed in the different provinces. This ensures that we have the means to communicate information and data which are necessary for our efficient response.”, Dir. Armas added.
Meanwhile, DSWD-CAR has also deployed Field Office personnel who will augment in the provinces. These personnel are expected to lead in the operations of the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Office in the provinces.
“We have also deployed our Assistant Regional Directors and Division Chiefs in our SWAD Offices in the provinces. They will lead in the decision making process in case that communication lines are cut during the onslaught of typhoon Ompong.”, Dir. Armas shared.
Aside from these actions, the DSWD-CAR has already issued various relief items including family food packs, sleeping kits, and hygiene kits.
As of 14 September 2018, there are 21,022 family food packs, 590 sleeping kits and 175 hygiene kits released of which, 8,572 were given to Abra, 2,050 in Apayao, 1,450 in Benguet, 2,400 in Ifugao, 1,550 for Kalinga and 5,000 for Mt. Province.
As of 1 PM of 14 September 2018, DSWD-CAR maintains 2,808 family food packs, 1,543 hygiene kits, 3,557 sleeping kits and a stand-by fund of PhP 3,000,000.00 which can be used for augmentation.
For queries and concern, DSWD-CAR can be reached through its Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Team Offices in your respective provinces or at #40 North Drive, Baguio City with contact number (074) 446-59-61 or 444-32-62 or 0949 141 7232. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
