As the national government continues its operation to help the localities affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in southern Mindanao, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian highlighted the significance of implementing the whole-of-nation approach to help affected evacuees.
“Ang gusto nga ng Presidente Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., whole-of-nation approach. Habang kami sa relief, pagkain, immediate recovery through cash assistance, papasok naman yung NHA (National Housing Authority) at DHSUD (Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development) para sa housing and reconstruction, papasok naman yung DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) for cash-for-work, so pag pinagsama-sama mo iyan, makakatulong din talaga (President Marcos wants a whole-of-nation approach. While we focus on relief, food, immediate recovery through cash assistance, the NHA and DHSUD come in for housing and reconstruction, the DOLE comes in for cash-for-work. When put together, it really helps),” Gatchalian said in a radio interview on Monday.
The DSWD chief said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Health (DOH) are also vital partners in the disaster response operations.
“Sa ganito kalaking trahedya, hindi kakayanin ng isang departamento, kailangan mag-work as a team (A single department cannot cope up with a disaster of this magnitude). DPWH has been doing the road clearing so that DSWD relief goods can enter. The DHSUD is helping us with the recovery efforts. The DOH (Department of Health) is helping, not just for the need of medicine, but [also] psychosocial interventions,” he said.
To assist the DOH, the DSWD also provides Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services such as therapeutic storytelling, therapeutic art sessions, play therapy and other recreational activities to create a safe and supportive environment and mitigate the traumatic impact of the recent disaster among children.
Based on the 6 a.m. report of the Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication, the DSWD already provided more than PHP124.9 million worth of humanitarian assistance to displaced families from Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), Region 11 (Davao Region), and Region 12 (Soccsksargen).
“Kulang-kulang 153,000 na family food packs (FFPs) ang ating napamahagi sa mga biktima ng kalamidad (We distributed almost 153,000 FFPs to calamity victims),” the DSWD chief noted.
Financial assistance
In the same radio interview, Gatchalian said he already requested all local chief executives of the affected localities to immediately submit the list of their affected constituents in order to fast-track the distribution of the emergency cash transfer (ECT) aid.
“Ang goal natin, makuha yung listahan ngayong hapon [at] masuri namin. Sana by this Saturday all the way to next week tuloy-tuloy na yung payouts natin (Our goal is to get the list this afternoon and examine it. Hopefully by this Saturday up to next week, we will start the payouts),” he said.
The provision of the ECT aims to address the immediate needs and provide opportunities for livelihood and income of the affected families.
Gatchalian assured that the provision of ECT will be done in all earthquake affected areas. (PNA)