The Department of Social Welfare and Development signed on January 14, 2010  a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the setting-up of a Humanitarian Response Monitoring System (HRMS) for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Central Mindanao. 

Former DSWD Secr etary Esperanza I. Cabral and IOM regional representative, Mr. Charles Harns signed the agreement at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City with DSWD Acting Secretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco witnessing the signing ceremony.

The HRMS is a web-based database designed to manage information in both natural and man-made disaster situations.  It has the capacity to record basic background situation, map gaps and needs in affected areas as well as record humanitarian operations provided by relevant stakeholders.  

According to Social Welfare and Development Acting Secretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco, the DSWD will adopt the HRMS as its main tool for monitoring displacement and humanitarian response in Central Mindanao. The system will also be implemented in other disaster stricken areas nationwide. 

"The HRMS ensures more targeted response and reduces duplication of essential services for an equitable and maximum use of available resources," Acting Secretary Yangco explained.

The HRMS was funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department. 

Under this MoC, the IOM shall conduct capacity building activities on the HRMS management and provide technical assistance for the enhancement of the system.   Likewise, IOM shall guide the DSWD in the purchase and installation of IT infrastructures as well as application hosting.

On the other hand, the DSWD shall host the system for tracking and monitoring of IDPs in Central Mindanao.  It shall also promote the use of the HRMS to member-agencies of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, non-government organizations, local government units and other stakeholders. 

The HRMS was used by the IOM in 2006 to address information management issues in the emergency response at the height of super typhoon "Reming."  In 2009, the system was modified in response to the complex emergency in Central Mindanao. ### (DSWD-Social Marketing Service) 02 February 2010