By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led the dissemination of food packs to families affected by isolated rain showers and floods in the Negros Island Region (NIR) over the weekend due to the prevalence of a shear line.
On Sunday, prolonged rains generated up to chest-deep floodwaters which inundated some towns in Negros Occidental and led to the evacuation of affected residents.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Irene Dumlao said in a statement on Monday, “Nagkaroon po ng yellow rainfall warning kahapon sa Bacolod City na nagdulot ng matinding pagbaha sa 24 na barangay. Sa utos ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian, maagap na nakapagpaabot ng tulong sa 320 pamilyang naapektuhan ng baha ang DSWD NIR. Nagbahagi kami ng mga family food packs (FFPs) na syang naka-preposition na sa area.”
Asec. Dumlao likewise assured the public that DSWD will continue to assist the displaced families through close coordination with the Bacolod City LGU to facilitate their gradual return to their normal lives once the floodwaters subside.
The Social Welfare spokesperson, meanwhile, shared that the agency is working on the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) Program, which makes use of two parallel supply chain mechanisms to ensure better disaster preparedness and response across the country.
The first supply chain utilizes a national and local government-driven supply chain that aims to increase the production capacities and processes of the agency’s Luzon Disaster Resource Center (LDRC) in Pasay City, the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Cebu, and the warehouse and storage facilities across all DSWD’s Field Offices (FOS).
The second supply chain, on the other hand, focuses on the DSWD’s partnerships with the private sector. Through framework agreements, the Department will be able to tap the expertise and resources of established large and small groceries, supermarkets, manufacturers, and distributors.
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