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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reiterated on Monday (January 13) that all hands are on deck to address the needs of affected families and may call for bigger humanitarian response with the continued restiveness of Mt. Kanlaon.

The DSWD chief said the agency is nearing its target of 100,000 family food packs (FFPs) for stockpiling in agency and local government unit (LGU)-owned warehouses across Negros Island.

“Mula nag-start ang Kanlaon hanggang ngayon tuloy-tuloy ang pagbibigay ng DSWD ng family food packs. Malapit na tayo mag-hundred thousand, nasa 60,000 na tayo kasi alam  natin na hanggang ngayon, naka-alert level 3 sila,” Secretary Gatchalian said in an interview over PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

The DSWD chief told the program anchors that by Wednesday (January 15), a total of 100,000 would be prepositioned across DSWD-managed warehouses and other facilities owned LGUs in the entire Negros Island.

This is part of the agency’s preparation in case another eruption occurs or the alert level of the volcano is brought to a higher scale, according to Secretary Gatchalian.

“On top of what we already have on the ground ngayon, mga around 60,000 FFPs, ire-rev up natin yan by Wednesday to 100,000 FFPs in the whole island of Negros. Para kung ano man ang mangyari sapat na sapat yung supply ng pagkain na maibibigay,” the DSWD chief said.

Secretary Gatchalian stressed that the agency is intensifying ground efforts to ensure the comfort of families and individuals who have been seeking extended refuge in evacuation centers.

This is part of the DSWD’s mandate as the head of the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) cluster that is responsible for ensuring the coordination and provision of assistance and protection to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in line with legal protection framework and humanitarian standards.

“Ang utos ng Pangulo, hindi man natin kayang ibigay yung kanilang comfort sa bahay pero kailangan siguraduhin na hanggang sa kaya natin, komportable pa rin sila sa evacuation center at yung mga basic needs, dapat nandon,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

“Hindi tayo bumibitaw sa pagbibigay ng suporta sa mga LGUs.  Continuous and sustaining dapat. Kaya nga ang sagot natin doon ay maagap at mapagkalinga, hindi sapat yung pag may binigay ka, aalis ka na, kundi sustaining yung effort,” the DSWD chief added.

As of Monday, the agency has released Php76,168,005-worth of humanitarian aid to families affected by the December 9 eruption Mt. Kanlaon, comprising of food and non-food items, as well as cash assistance. (LSJ)

Tagalog Version

DSWD handa sa response and relief ops sa patuloy na pag-alburoto ng Mt. Kanlaon

Tiniyak ni Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian na nakahanda ang ahensya sa pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng mga pamilyang maapektuhan sa patuloy na pagaalburoto ng Mt. Kanlaon.

Ayon sa DSWD chief, tuloy-tuloy ang produksyon ng 100,000 family food packs (FFPs) para sa stockpiling sa warehouse ng ahensya at local government unit (LGU)-owned warehouses sa Negros Island.

“Mula nag-start ang Kanlaon hanggang ngayon tuloy-tuloy ang pagbibigay ng DSWD ng family food packs. Malapit na tayo mag-hundred thousand, nasa 60,000 na tayo kasi alam natin na hanggang ngayon, naka-alert level 3 sila,” tugon ni Secretary Gatchalian sa isang panayam sa PTV Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

Sabi pa ng DSWD chief, makukumpleto na ng ahensya ang pagpreposition sa may 100,000 family food packs ( FFPs) sa Miyerkules ( January 15) na ilalagak sa mga DSWD-managed warehouses at iba pang facilities ng LGUs sa Negros Island.

Ito aniya ay kabilang sa preparasyon ng ahensya sa napipintong pagsabog pa ng bulkang Kanlaon.

“On top of what we already have on the ground ngayon, mga around 60,000 FFPs, ire-rev up natin yan by Wednesday to 100,000 FFPs in the whole island of Negros. Para kung ano man ang mangyari sapat na sapat yung supply ng pagkain na maibibigay,” sabi pa ng DSWD chief.

Binigyang diin ni Secretary Gatchalian na mas pinapaigting ng ahensya ang ground efforts nito upang matiyak na mabibigyan ng maayos na tulong ang mga apektadong pamilya na nasa evacuation centers.

Ito aniya ay isa sa mandato ng DSWD bilang head ng Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) cluster.

“Ang utos ng Pangulo, hindi man natin kayang ibigay yung kanilang comfort sa bahay pero kailangan siguraduhin na hanggang sa kaya natin, komportable pa rin sila sa evacuation center at yung mga basic needs, dapat nandon,” sabi pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Dagdag pa niya, “Hindi tayo bumibitaw sa pagbibigay ng suporta sa mga LGUs. Continuous and sustaining dapat. Kaya nga ang sagot natin doon ay maagap at mapagkalinga, hindi sapat yung pag may binigay ka, aalis ka na, kundi sustaining yung effort.”

Sa pinakahuling tala, umabot na sa Php76,168,005-worth ng humanitarian aid ang naibahagi sa mga naapektuhang pamilya matapos ang pagputok ng Mt Kanlaon noong December 9.# (MVC)