The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is actively addressing the needs of individuals affected by disasters, particularly the youth and children, due to the recent consecutive storms that hit the country.
Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Thursday (November 14) the DSWD distributed diapers to families with children and toddlers affected by Tropical Cyclone Nika in Dolores town in Abra province.
“Aside from the family food packs, our personnel from DSWD Field Office (FO) Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) also distributed diapers to some Nika-affected families from Dolores, Abra province. These were given to those who have young children and toddlers with them, sourced from our Regional Reception and Study Center for Children (RRSCC),” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao, also the DSWD’s spokesperson, said the initiative aligns with the Department’s responsibility as the lead for the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) during disasters and crises.
“Due to the series of storms, some of our kababayans have gone in and out of evacuation centers. And of course, of these affected families, and individuals, kasama na rin diyan ang mga bata who require our extra attention and expanded interventions,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
Republic Act 10821, or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, provides the agency’s Child Care Management (CCM) guidelines.
It prioritizes the welfare of lactating mothers and their children in evacuation centers.
According to Asst. Secretary Dumlao, the agency provides psychosocial services for adults and play therapy for children in evacuation centers to reduce the stress and trauma caused by disasters.
“This is of course, facilitated by our focal personnel deployed in the field, and in coordination with concerned local government units (LGUs). Just like in a report we recently gathered from the Ilocos Region, our field office personnel worked with the La Union Incident Management Group to provide psychosocial support not just to our children, but also women and older people,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out.
The DSWD coordinates with local responders to provide child and women-friendly spaces in evacuation centers.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the agency’s frontline responders are well-trained and knowledgeable in supporting senior citizens and evacuees with disabilities during crises and disaster emergencies.
“These are always in effect during disasters; however, with the consecutive storms and their impact, dito na nga mas lumalaki ang demand to scale up and drumbeat our efforts,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
“Beyond the food needs of our kababayans, we are tapping fully our available resources and interventions to ensure that all individuals and their needs would not be neglected,” the DSWD official said. (LSJ)
