The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that as of 10 a.m. today,  it has provided 29,880 food packs to augment relief resources of local government units (LGUs) affected by Typhoon Glenda for evacuees and families staying in their relatives’ or friends’ houses.

Of this number, 6, 850 food packs were given in National Capital Region (NCR), 7,000 in Central Luzon, 9,000 in Southern Luzon, 2,400 in Bicol Region, and 4,630 in Eastern Visayas.

In Bicol Region, a total of 590 bags of rice were distributed while Eastern Visayas got 3,880 pieces of packed noodles, 2,500 pieces of bottled water, tarpaulins, and 500 pieces of blankets.

In Bicol Region, a total of 590 bags of rice were distributed while Eastern Visayas got 3,880 pieces of packed noodles, 2,500 pieces of bottled water, tarpaulins, and 500 pieces of blankets.

Some 1,457 mats and blankets were also given out to LGUs in NCR.

Evacuation centers

The Department added that 1,200 evacuation centers  remain open in the affected regions providing temporary shelter to  99,548  families or  525,791 persons.

The number of evacuation centers is down by 140 as evacuees have started to go home after their communities have been declared safe by authorities.

As of 10 a.m., in Bicol Region, 77,654 families or 423,538 individuals continue to stay in 778 evacuation centers.

In Metro Manila, a total of 5,016 families or 23,820 individuals were displaced and are now temporarily staying in 106 evacuation centers. The City of Manila provided food to some 780 families or 3,818 families presently staying in the evacuation centers in Baseco Compound, Delpan Sports Complex, Tondo and Port Area covered courts.

In Central Luzon, 1,805 families or 7,695 individuals are now staying in 46 evacuation centers.

In Southern Luzon, a total of 162 evacuation centers are still open  presently providing shelter to some 8,575 families or 40,080 individuals.

In Eastern Visayas, a total of 6,147 families or 29,079 individuals are presently staying in 97 evacuation centers.

The Office of the Secretary-Disaster Response Operations and Monitoring Information Center (OSEC-DROMIC), said that some 167,293 families or 881,826 persons from seven regions are projected to be affected by the typhoon. DSWD is currently validating this figure through its Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Teams which are on the ground to monitor the extent of the disaster.

Damaged houses

Due to strong winds and heavy rains, a total of 7,002 houses were totally damaged and 19,204 houses were partially destroyed. These houses were mostly situated along coastal barangays.

Enough relief

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman assured that there are enough relief goods to augment resources of affected LGUs.

“As of this time, we are not calling for donations since prepositioned goods of DSWD and concerned LGUs are enough. But if there are kind-hearted individuals, they can share clothes and blankets. They can proceed to the nearest DSWD office in their areas,” Sec. Soliman said.

To date, DSWD has prepositioned a total of 114,667 food packs in NCR and Regions III, IV-A and B, V, VII, VIII and at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City.

There are also 934,501 pieces of assorted items such as noodles, bottled water, biscuits, sugar, coffee and canned goods available.

Likewise, 541,332 pieces of non-food items such as clothes, blanket, sleeping and plastic mats, water JUGS, raincoats, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, and folding beds are ready for distribution as the need arises.

The Department also has standby funds amounting to P56,603,712.11 which can be used to purchase emergency relief supplies that may be needed by the affected families.

With Typhoon Glenda already on land, all members of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Quick Response Teams (QRTs) at the regional level and the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Teams at the provincial level along the typhoon’s path are now on field to assess the impact of the disaster and to assist local government units in disaster response.

These teams continue to send in reports to the Office of the Secretary-Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (OSEC-DROMIC) at the Central Office.

As of 6 a.m. in the Bicol Region where ‘Glenda’ made a land fall, 31, 422 families or 137,259 persons from Albay, Catanduanes, and Masbate have evacuated to 64 evacuation centers.

Others areas along ‘Glenda’s’ path

In Eastern Visayas, 5,335 families or 7,318 persons were displaced coming from 39 barangays in nine municipalities and two cities. Some 221 houses have been reported damaged. DSWD-Field Office VIII activated its Operation ANGKAS (Alliance of Networks for Stranded Center) to assist strandees at Allen Port in Northern Samar.  Hot meals were provided by the local government unit, while 2,000 food packs & bus transportation for two days will be provided by the Field Office.

In Central Luzon, in Aurora, 27 families or 133 persons are now staying at the evacuation centers at the Angara Hall, Methodist Church, and Ibunan National High School.

In Bulacan, 45 families or 124 persons were displaced. They are now staying at the evacuation centers at the Obando National High School and Salambao Elementary School.

In Pampanga, 47 families or 187 persons are now staying at Pavillion evacuation center.

In Zambales, 16 families or 54 persons are now staying at the North Central Elementary School.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), 150 families with 750 individuals were displaced.

With office work suspended in government offices at NCR, DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman has directed all personnel of the Department involved in disaster response and in the provision of essential services to report for work and be on full alert 24/7. ###

DSWD Social Marketing Service (SMS) Director Cezario Joel C. Espejo gives an overview on the Department’s crisis response during natural disasters at the Google Crisis Response Summit held on April 30 at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

In times of disasters and crisis situations, the importance of sending information as quickly as possible to the public so they can take action is crucial. A single delay may mean life or death for the people trapped in these situations.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recognizing this need, participated in the Google Crisis Response Workshop and Summit held on April 30 at SMX Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

DSWD Social Marketing Service Director Cezario Joel C. Espejo and Information and Communication Technology Management Service (ICTMS) Director Felino O. Castro V represented the Department in the workshop/summit providing a background on the systems employed by DSWD in responding to urgent communication needs in times of disasters.

In his opening message, Dir. Espejo stated, “In the midst of all the natural and man-made disasters which struck the Philippines in 2013, technology played an important role in the people’s collective response.”

“It was because of technology, primarily the Internet and social media outlets, that people were able to immediately come together and provide aid to the survivors of these calamities. In gathering supplies, calling for volunteers, collating a list of missing persons or spreading vital information, it was Twitter, Facebook, and hashtags that made all the difference,” Dir. Espejo explained.

“This is just one of the million examples that prove how potent a tool technology is in crisis response and citizen mobilization,” Dir. Espejo added.

DSWD-ICTMS Director Felino O. Castro V (2nd from left) discusses DSWD’s disaster response communications system.

On the other hand, Dir. Castro discussed the site manned by DSWD-ICTMS’s Disaster Augmentation Response Teams (DARTs) which 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.

Google Crisis Response is a project that makes critical information more accesible during natural disasters with teams working with government agencies, such as DSWD, non-government organizations (NGOs) and commercial organizations. ###

DSWD Social Marketing Service (SMS) Director Cezario Joel C. Espejo gives an overview on the Department’s crisis response during natural disasters at the Google Crisis Response Summit held on April 30 at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

In times of disasters and crisis situations, the importance of sending information as quickly as possible to the public so they can take action is crucial. A single delay may mean life or death for the people trapped in these situations.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recognizing this need, participated in the Google Crisis Response Workshop and Summit held on April 30 at SMX Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

 DSWD Social Marketing Service Director Cezario Joel C. Espejo and Information and Communication Technology Management Service (ICTMS) Director Felino O. Castro V represented the Department in the workshop/summit providing a background on the systems employed by DSWD in responding to urgent communication needs in times of disasters.

 In his opening message, Dir. Espejo stated, “In the midst of all the natural and man-made disasters which struck the Philippines in 2013, technology played an important role in the people’s collective response.”

“It was because of technology, primarily the Internet and social media outlets, that people were able to immediately come together and provide aid to the survivors of these calamities. In gathering supplies, calling for volunteers, collating a list of missing persons or spreading vital information, it was Twitter, Facebook, and hashtags that made all the difference,” Dir. Espejo explained.

“This is just one of the million examples that prove how potent a tool technology is in crisis response and citizen mobilization,” Dir. Espejo added.

DSWD-ICTMS Director Felino O. Castro V (2nd from left) discusses DSWD’s disaster response communications system.

On the other hand, Dir. Castro discussed the site manned by DSWD-ICTMS’s Disaster Augmentation Response Teams (DARTs) which 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.

 Google Crisis Response is a project that makes critical information more accesible during natural disasters with teams working with government agencies, such as DSWD, non-government organizations (NGOs) and commercial organizations. ###

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.  ###