DSWD ensures faster, more efficient distribution of relief goods to victims of ‘Ruby’

Volunteers repacking relief goods at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue, Cebu with DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman (red vest). Those who wish to volunteer in the repacking of relief goods for Ruby-hit LGUs are welcome at CICC. (Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines’ Facebook page)

MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) appealed to the local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas on Sunday to immediately start the distribution of relief goods to their constituents who are staying in evacuation centers in their areas as a result of the onslaught of typhoon “Ruby” Saturday night.

DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman made the appeal as she reiterated that food and rice supplies had earlier been prepositioned in all LGUs along the forecast path of the typhoon for repacking to ensure more speedy and efficient distribution to their constituents.

“We made the earlier prepositioning to ensure faster distribution of goods to those who maybe affected by the disaster and to ensure also that those who follow the call for pre-emptive evacuation are served with food packs,” Soliman said.

She recalled that as a result of the lesson learned from typhoon “Yolanda” last year, when the distribution of food packs was delayed because these had to be repacked first before given to LGUs, DSWD now has adopted the system of providing LGUs with warehouses bulk goods which they can already repack.

“Hence, we have already provided the relief goods for the LGUs to repack” at least two days before the forecast landfall of typhoon “Ruby” in the country, she said.

She added that in case that there are LGUs which have not received relief goods, they may immediately inform the department.

DSWD-Field Office VIII has prepositioned relief goods to all provinces of Eastern Visayas.

Director Nestor Ramos said that a total of 11,050 sacks of rice of 50-kilogram each has already been prepositioned to the Provincial Action Teams through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Offices (PSWDOs).

Eastern Samar province received a total of 4,750 sacks of rice for the PSWDO and its municipalities, including Hernani, Lawaan, Oras, Salcedo, Maydolong, General MacArthur, Giporlos, Balangkayan, Can-avid, Jipapad, Taft, Balangiga, and Maslog.

On the other hand, Leyte was allotted 3,800 sacks of rice for the municipalities of Barugo, Sta. Fe, Baybay, Capoocan, Kananga, Julita, Mayorga, Palompon, San Miguel, Dagami, La Paz, Dulag and Babatngon.

The Northern Samar PSWDO got 1,000 sacks of rice while Samar received 1,500 sacks for Marabut and Basey towns.

The DSWD is prepared to augment the distribution of rice packs while the provision of canned goods has become the provincial government’s counterpart.

DSW Field Office VIII has 25,000 standby food packs and continuous repacking of relief goods is being done at the DSWD Tacloban Hub.

Furthermore, a warehouse at Palompon, Leyte has also been opened where goods for Southern Leyte and Biliran province have been prepositioned, Soliman said.