The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assures the public that Quick Response Teams (QRTs) trained on evacuation center management, psychosocial support, and facilitators of child and women-friendly spaces are now being deployed to areas that will be affected by this destructive Typhoon ‘Ompong.’

“All QRT personnel in our field offices in Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Central Luzon are now deployed and on standby 24/7 to accommodate possible augmentation requests and other technical assistance coming from our partner local government units,” explained DSWD Secretary Virginia N. Orogo.

Aside from this, DSWD personnel from the Central Office trained in disaster response had already been deployed to the CAR and Cagayan Valley as early as September 12 to augment the regions in their disaster response operation for ‘Ompong’, which is expected to landfall on Saturday (September 15, 2018).

“We assure the public that we will prioritize the safety of all our affected citizens, especially the disadvantaged sector including children, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women, and the elderly. We will provide all the necessary assistance and services to them,” she added.

Meanwhile, additional typhoon preparations are continuously happening in DSWD Field Offices (FOs) in Luzon and Region VIII.

The Department is also continuously repacking relief goods, as well as vigilantly monitoring the situation in areas to where ‘Ompong’ will hit.

This morning, the DSWD Rapid Emergency Telecommunications Team (RETT) set up emergency telecommunications equipment in DSWD FO II in Cagayan Valley region to provide stable communication services in preparation for Typhoon Ompong to smash into the northern part of the country.

The Department also transported 5,000 family food packs (FFPs), 1,000 family kits, 1,000 hygiene kits, and 1,000 sleeping kits in DSWD FO II​,​ and 1,000 hygiene kits, 1,300 sleeping kits, and 760 family kits in DSWD FO III​.​

Moreover, a request has already been facilitated to the Logistics Cluster to airlift 1,600 FFPs in Basco, Batanes via C-130 airplane.

The DSWD is expected to deliver additional 1,600 FFPs for CAR; and 7,400 sleeping kits, 7,834 hygiene kits, and 8,900 family kits for Ilocos Region.

Meanwhile, Sec. Orogo expresses her gratitude to all those who are helping in the disaster response operations for ‘Ompong.’

“On behalf of the whole DSWD, we thank all our partners in the local government, national government, private sector, the media, NGOs, CSOs, and volunteers who are assisting in the disaster response operation for the typhoon. I hope that after this experience we will continue to work together to raise the morale and assist those who will be affected as they return back to their ​normal lives,” the Secretary ended.  ###