To ensure a stronger and more synchronized response for families affected by recent weather disturbances, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has assured local chief executives (LCEs) of the agency’s all-out support to augment their relief goods for their constituents.

As of July 26, the DSWD has already augmented 615,575 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) to affected communities and continues to process more requests from mayors and governors.

Over the week, the DSWD chief made the rounds of evacuation centers in the Cities of Marikina, Las Piñas, Pasig, Caloocan, and Navotas in the National Capital Region; and in the Provinces of Bulacan and Rizal to check the condition of displaced families and to assure the LCEs that the agency is always ready to help.

Secretary Gatchalian also met last Thursday (July 24) with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to assure him of the agency’s support as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Disaster response ng DSWD is anchored on our own workers, and the relationship between the DSWD and the local government units (LGUs),” Secretary Gatchalian said as he underscored the tight relationship of the agency and the LGUs in an impromptu speech on Thursday (July 24) at the agency’s celebration of the 37th National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) at the Central Office in Batasan, Quezon City.

The DSWD chief told reporters in the event that he is happy with the response of the LGUs that he visited.

“Maraming mga local chief executives, ang mindset nila ay protecting the poor, the vulnerable, and the disadvantaged,” Secretary Gatchalian said in an ambush interview. (AKDL)