The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is inviting volunteers to spend their free time helping repack family food packs (FFPS) at the Luzon Disaster Resource Center (LDRC) in Pasay City and the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City, Cebu, to ensure the sustained supply of relief goods.

Director Jun Eso, officer-in-charge of the DSWD’s National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) said the Department’s major production hubs operate from Monday to Saturday and welcomes volunteers during regular working hours.

“Patuloy pong nag re-repack ‘yung mga production hubs natin dito sa Pasay City at sa Cebu. So, let me take this opportunity to invite our viewers. If you have time to volunteer in our Luzon Disaster Resource Center in Pasay City, and in Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue, Cebu, open po ‘yung production hubs natin doon from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Mondays to Saturdays,” Director Eso said during last Thursday’s weekly Media Forum.

Due to the continuous effects of the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and recent tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng, millions of food packs had been distributed to typhoon-affected communities nationwide.

Prior to the onset of Habagat-enhanced heavy rains , the DSWD had reached a milestone of 5 million FFPs prepositioned across 1,000 warehouses nationwide.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has earlier directed the NRLMB to expedite production and replenish the stock to its peak volume of 5 million FFPs as part of the national government’s commitment in ensuring the swift provision of assistance to families affected by calamities.

“Before po ng [bagyong] Luis, Maymay, at Neneng, we reached 5 million family food packs, and it’s a milestone for DSWD to have this strategically prepositioned all over the country. In case of any disaster, we could easily transport these family food packs to the affected communities,” the NRLMB Director has told reporters.

In order to maintain the 5 million FFPs, continuous repacking of food packs is being done daily at the LDRC and VDRC where volunteers have been walking in to do their part in disaster preparedness.

To ensure organized shifts, Director Eso has advised interested individuals or groups to coordinate with the NRLMB prior to visiting the facilities. While walk-ins are accepted, pre-registration is strongly encouraged so schedules can be managed effectively.

“It would be better if you could contact us para ma-schedule po natin. If they do walk-ins, pwede naman, but we are encouraging (that they) register muna,” Director Eso noted.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, while those below 18 are required to be accompanied by a guardian due to the active operation of heavy-duty machinery inside the warehouses.

The volunteers are also encouraged to wear appropriate clothing, particularly closed shoes, to prevent workplace accidents. Upon arrival, they will undergo a brief orientation and are requested to render at least four hours of service to help the LDRC and VDRC meet their daily target quotas.

“We would do brief orientation kung ano ‘yung gagawin sa loob, and then at least 4 hours po [pwedeng] ma-render ng volunteer doon para ma-maximize din ‘yung time natin while nandoon tayo kasi mayroon din tayong quota na niri-reach everyday,” Director Eso explained to the media.

To further strengthen the country’s disaster response mechanisms, the DSWD, through the NRLMB, is also planning to establish its first dedicated relief production hub in Mindanao, to be located in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.

“Currently mayroon tayong rented warehouse doon which could accommodate the 200,000 family food packs. Operational din ito, and we are planning also soon na magkaroon ng production hub doon,” Director Eso said.

The planned production hub is targeted to begin Phase 1 this year, subject to the availability of funding.

The establishment of the facility is part of a three-year plan to expand the DSWD’s relief goods production and logistics capacity in Mindanao. (KB)