Assistant Secretary Javier R. Jimenez, representing Secretary Dinky Soliman, explains the benefits of the DSWD-UN-WFP joint project, dubbed Relief Goods for Inventory and Monitoring System (RGIMS) during the pilot demonstration.

In an effort to have a reliable and accurate inventory and monitoring of relief goods which will result to a more efficient delivery of goods to disaster victims, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the United Nations – World Food Programme (UN-WFP) developed the Relief Goods Inventory and Monitoring System (RGIMS).

The RGIMS serves as a tool for expediting the inventory of relief goods, warehousing and monitoring of the utilization of goods using available internet technologies. It allows for faster generation of data and information on the acquisition, receiving, processing and release of relief goods and other commodities.

Through the RGIMS, donations can also be rationalized providing information to prospective donors on what goods are still abundant in supply and what goods are needed. Likewise, through the RGIMS, the DSWD would be able to track which goods are already expired or about to expire.

“I believe the RGIMS will translate to a more efficient planning, resource management and mobilization, on the part of the DSWD and the national government in terms of disaster-preparedness,” according to Assistant Secretary Javier Jimenez who represented Secretary Dinky Soliman during the pilot testing of the system held recently at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas.

Early this, year, the DSWD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN-WFP, an international organization, for the implementation of the RGIMS and to enhance related systems and procedures on disaster response. ###