Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian (DSWD) assured on Tuesday (December 10) that all families affected by the restiveness of Mt. Kanlaon will receive timely assistance from the government until the situation stabilizes.

The DSWD chief gave this assurance in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s directive to ensure that food, access to clean water, and other needed assistance will be extended to the affected population.

“Ang DSWD sa instruction ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr, ready na mag-supply ng tulong ng pagkain, tubig at iba pang kakailanganin ng evacuees as long as they need it,” Secretary Gatchalian told local reporters during his visit in an evacuation center in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

On orders of President Marcos, Secretary Gatchalian flew to Negros Island early Tuesday morning to personally monitor the agency’s disaster response and check on the condition of the evacuees.

During his visit to an evacuation center in Bago City, the DSWD chief personally oversaw the distribution of family food packs (FFPs), hygiene kits, and water filtration units to the evacuees.

“Kami naman sa ngalan ng DSWD, nakikipagtulungan kami sa inyong local government units (LGUs) para masiguradong may sapat na pagkain, tubig at matutulugan sa evacuation center. Siguraduhin natin na yung mga pangangailangan niyo sa loob ng evacuation center ay matugunan po natin yan,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

Based on the December 10, 6 A.M. report by the DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC), around 2,000 families from 14 barangays were affected by the volcanic activities of Kanlaon Volcano. Majority of this number or 1,992 families are staying in 13 open evacuation centers across Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas).

Based on the same data, the DSWD has so far extended over Php620,000 worth of relief aid consisting of food and non-food items (FNFIs).

The DSWD chief reiterated that the Department is well-equipped to meet the relief requirements of affected families, citing the prepositioning of 80,000 FFPs in Negros Island ahead of the eruption.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang response efforts natin. Kung matatandaan niyo lagi nating sinasabi may mga prepositioned goods tayo. So, yun ang gagamitin muna. Pero nagpapadala rin tayo ng re-supply din… right now sa huli
nating talaan, nasa more than 2,000 yung number of affected families so we are more than ready to meet the requirements,” Secretary Gatchalian emphasized.

Aside from his visit to the evacuation center, the DSWD chief met with Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Bago City Vice Mayor Ramon Torres, and provincial council members to discuss the ongoing relief operations and coordinate steps for the agency’s augmentation support to LGUs.

Secretary Gatchalian was accompanied by DSWD Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Diana Rose Cajipe, Field Office (FO) 6 – Western Visayas Regional Director Arwin Razon, and FO-7 Central Visayas Director Shalaine Marie Lucero. # (LSJ)

 

Tagalog version

DSWD chief tiniyak ang tuluy-tuloy na relief aid sa lahat ng apektado ng Kanlaon

Makakaasa ang mga residente sa Negros Occidental partikular na ang mga naapektuhan ng pagputok ng bulkang Kanlaon na tuloy tuloy ang pagbibigay ng tulong ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sa lahat ng mga naapektuhan ng pagputok ng Mt Kanlaon.

Ito ang tiniyak ni Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian (DSWD) na agad na nagtungo sa Negros Island upang personal na maghatid ng tulong sa mga naapektuhang pamilya dulot ng pagsabog ng Mt. Kanlaon nitong Lunes (December 9).

Ayon sa DSWD chief, nagbigay ng direktiba si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr na tiyakin na mabibigyan ng tulong tulad ng pagkain, access sa malinis na tubig at iba pang pangangailangan ang mga residenteng naapektuhan.

“Ang DSWD sa instruction ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr, ready na mag-supply ng tulong ng pagkain, tubig at iba pang kakailanganin ng evacuees as long as they need it,”sabi ni Secretary Gatchalian sa isang panayam ng mga local reporters sa pagbisita ng Kalihim sa evacuation center sa Bago City, Negros Occidental.

Personal ding pinamahalaan ng DSWD Chief ang pamamahagi ng family food packs (FFPs), hygiene kits, at water filtration units sa mga evacuees.

“Kami naman sa ngalan ng DSWD, nakikipagtulungan kami sa inyong local government units (LGUs) para masiguradong may sapat na pagkain, tubig at matutulugan sa evacuation center. Siguraduhin natin na yung mga pangangailangan niyo sa loob ng evacuation center ay matugunan po natin yan,” sabi pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Base sa pinakahuling report mula sa DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC), halos 2,000 families mula sa 14 barangays ang naapektuhan ng pagputok ng bulkan kung saan mayroong 1,992 families ang pansamantalang nanunuluyan sa 13 open evacuation centers sa Regions 6 (Western Visayas) at 7 (Central Visayas).

Sa report, mahigit sa Php620,000 halaga ng food and non-food items (FNFIs) ang naipaabot na ng ahensya sa mga residente.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang response efforts natin. Kung matatandaan niyo lagi nating sinasabi may mga prepositioned goods tayo. So, yun ang gagamitin muna. Pero nagpapadala rin tayo ng re-supply din… right now sa huli nating talaan, nasa more than 2,000 yung number of affected families so we are more than ready to meet the requirements,” paglilinaw pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Bukod naman sa pagbisita sa evacuation center, nakipagkita din ang DSWD chief kina Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Bago City Vice Mayor Ramon Torres, at provincial council members upang pagusapan ang ongoing relief operations kabilang na ang iba pang tulong na maaaring ipaabot ng ahensya.

Kasama naman ni Secretary Gatchalian sina DSWD Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Diana Rose Cajipe, Field Office (FO) 6 – Western Visayas Regional Director Arwin Razon, at FO-7 Central Visayas Director Shalaine Marie Lucero. # (MVC)