In its bid to better coordinate relief efforts of the government, international and local humanitarian agencies in times of disasters, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Information Communications Technology Management Service (DSWD-ICTMS) developed an Online Geographic Information System or WebGIS, a map which visualizes reports on disaster-affected population and the location of evacuation centers.

“This map may be used to guide relief efforts and visualize the locations of evacuation centers set-up during disasters,” explains DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman.

The site manned by DSWD-ICTMS’s Disaster Augmentation Response Teams (DARTs) visualizes the reports generated by the DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Office (DROMIC) showing the population and location of provinces/municipalities/cities and how many are affected by the disaster.

In addition, the map also shows the number of current occupants of evacuation centers and how many can be accommodated.

The map will be activated everytime there is a disaster and will be on-line until there are existing evacuation centers.

Currently online on the DSWD website is the GIS on existing evacuation centers providing temporary shelter to families affected by Habagat that occurred on August 17.

WebGIS can be accessed through http://mangomap.com/maps/11930 or the DROMIC Map Portal @ http://disaster.dswd.gov.ph/maps.php. ###

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman today said that the DSWD will continue to prioritize critical areas in Central Luzon and Metro Manila for relief distribution.

The Secretary also continues to call on volunteers to help in the repacking of relief goods. Volunteers may go to the DSWD-National Resource Operations Center (NROC)
As of August 8, 6 am, some P7.93 million worth of relief assistance have been provided to affected families from the combined resources of the DSWD, concerned local government units and non-government organizations.

A total of 294 evacuation centers remain open in affected regions serving 31,379 families composed of 149,050 persons. Likewise, 48,536 families with 244,424 persons are outside evacuation centers but are nonetheless provided with relief assistance.

In the National Capital Region, 16,503 families composed of 77,918 individuals were affected by continuous rains and flooding.   A total of 14,225 families or 68,372 individuals are presently staying in 107 evacuation centers.

DSWD-NCR  sent 800 food packs and 115 boxes of energy biscuits to four affected areas in Quezon City, particularly in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Bagong Silangan, Holy Family Church and Roxas District.

DSWD-NCR has released a total of P3,619,420 worth of assistance to nine affected LGUs in NCR. The assistance consisted of food packs, blankets and mattresses.

In Region III, a total of 208,016 families with 822,312 persons were affected by  continuous rains.

To date, 59 evacuation centers remain open in Region III serving 3,358 families or 14,160 persons, while some 5,376 families or 26,384 persons were served in their respective communities.

Total amount of assistance extended to family-victims in Region III has reached P2,402,396.00 composed of family packs, rice, canned goods, mats, clothes, and blankets from the combined resources of the DSWD (P753,640.00), concerned local government units (P1,558,756.00) and non-government organizations (P90,000.00).

DSWD social workers continue to assist social workers in affected local government units along management of evacuation centers, assessment of needs of victims, relief distribution and stress debriefing. ###

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman said that the DSWD continues to conduct relief operations in different areas affected by typhoon “Gener” and continuous rains.

Secretary Soliman said that the DSWD, concerned LGUs and non-government organizations had already delivered P12.45 million worth of relief assistance to some 181,181 families or 816,739 persons in 1,178 barangays, 145 municipalities, 23 cities in 32 provinces in the country.

According to the report from the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations and Monitoring Center (DROMIC), Region III has the most number of affected families with 99,518 composed of 428,720 individuals. The towns of Obando and Calumpit in Bulacan are still flooded.

In Region IV-A, particularly in Rodriquez, Rizal, there were 490 families or 2,450 individuals affected. These families came from barangays Rosario Plaza, Burgos, Aranzazu and Manggahan. Sixty-five (65) displaced families are still staying in the evacuation center.

DSWD Field Office IV-A already distributed 1,506 family food packs and the LGU of Rizal has provided 220 food packs to affected families.

In the National Capital Region, the local social welfare office of Manila continues to serve hot meals and packed lunch to affected families staying in evacuation centers.

To date, ‘Gener’ has also damaged 7,339 houses due to flood waters.  Of these, 1,041 housing units were totally damaged while 6,298 housing units were partially destroyed.  ###