As part of its efforts to more efficiently respond to future calamities, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is currently prioritizing the innovation and improvement of disaster operations. In times of disasters, the Department provides augmentation support in relief operations and evacuation camps management.
According to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, “The Department will continue to innovate, especially since this 2016, one of our thrusts and priorities is the development and establishment of the Department-wide Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) protocols/system/capacity building guidelines as part of scenario planning to prepare for disasters with the scale and magnitude of Typhoon Yolanda.”
One of the innovations done so far is the inclusion of cereals and food mixes in the first set of food assistance, whenever needed. High energy biscuits are also included in the food packs to readily address the hunger and nutritional requirements of the victims, Sec. Soliman explained.
Further the DSWD and National Food Authority (NFA) are studying the possible inclusion of iron fortified rice in the food packs. Iron fortified rice has high nutritional value and has been proven to decrease the incidence of anemia especially in babies, young children, and pregnant and lactating mothers.
“We have to introduce iron fortified rice in our family food packs since Filipinos have an aversion to rice which is not purely white, since they think it is dirty,” Sec. Soliman added.
Moreover, the DSWD’s strengthened partnership with international organizations such as the United Nations-World Food Programme (WFP) will result to an improved and more efficient system of disaster operations.
Meanwhile, in response to Senator Francis Escudero’s claim that “DSWD continues to distribute uncooked rice and noodles and conventional canned goods to evacuees even if they are left without tools to cook such goods… set up “soup kitchens” in barangays to feed residents displaced by calamities,” Sec. Soliman stated that soup kitchens are already established in evacuation centers managed by LGUs with the technical assistance of DSWD. ###
