Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian urged disaster-hit families and individuals to immediately coordinate with their respective local government units (LGUs) to access family food packs (FFPs) and other relief items that they need to cope with their present situation.
“Kung ang tanong ay paano makakakuha ng ayuda, ang unang hakbang ay makipag-ugnayan sa inyong mga LGUs. May sarili silang mga goods, at dinadagdagan naman ‘yun ng DSWD,” Secretary Gatchalian said during the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) virtual press briefing on Tuesday (July 22).
Secretary Gatchalian explained that LGUs are the first responders in times of calamities, as mandated by the Local Government Code. But the DSWD sends augmentation support upon the request of local chief executives (LCEs).
“Kung matatandaan natin sa Local Government Code, ang first line of defense—ang rumeresponde una sa sakuna ay ang local government units, ang mga city hall natin, provincial governments, municipal governments,” the DSWD chief said.
“Dyan pumapasok ang DSWD, inu-augment natin o dinadagdagan natin ‘yung maaaring maging kakulangan ng mga LGUs sa pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan ng kanilang mga constituent,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.
Secretary Gatchalian also emphasized the agency’s proactive approach to disaster response, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive that the DSWD must always be present on the ground.
“Ang utos ng ating Pangulo, kailangang omnipresent ang DSWD—laging nandoon sa mga lokalidad,” the DSWD chief said.
Secretary Gatchalian told the Presidential Communications Office-sponsored media briefing that the DSWD’s readiness is made possible through its extensive prepositioning of relief goods and continuous repacking of family food packs (FFPs) in the agency’s main productions hubs in Pasay City and Mandaue City in Cebu province.
“We have close to 1,000 warehouses nationwide. ‘Yung 3 million FFPs na naitala noong nakaraang linggo ay hindi lang nakaimbak sa isang lugar. Iyan ay naka-preposition na sa buong bansa, pati sa mga liblib na lugar,” Secretary Gatchalian explained.
“Hindi tayo nagre-repack lang kapag nandiyan na ang bagyo. Nakahanda tayo araw-araw, 365 days a year,” the DSWD chief added.
Based on the latest Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) report, the DSWD has provided more than Php 66 million worth of food and non-food items to LGUs affected by Severe Tropical Storm ‘Crising’ and the southwest monsoon or the habagat. (YADP)