Friday, November 8, 2013

DSWD Caraga readies for Yolanda

By Stella Maris V. Barcelon BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 7 (PIA) - In preparation for super typhoon Yolanda, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga prepositioned 2,000 family packs today for the Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI). Another 1,000 family packs for the province of Surigao del Norte and Surigao City were allocated. A standby fund or quick response fund of 13, 675,008.83 million is also readied by the office. Meanwhile, the regular standby family packs have been increased from 2,000 to 5,000. Each family pack costs P285.36 and contains food items such as 3 kilos of rice, 6 noodles, 6 coffee, and 6 canned goods. Volunteer packers are in the process of adding 5,000 packs. Non-food items are also being prepared. These include blankets, mosquito nets, pail, basin, kitchen kit containing casserole, ladle, spoons, forks, plates, mugs and personal hygiene kit containing toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, feminine wash, and sanitary napkins. DSWD Caraga regional director Minda B. Brigoli said that the agency is ready to augment relief goods at any given time to support the request of affected LGUs. DSWD Caraga has already activated its Quick Response Team (QRT) who will render 24-hour duty. Municipal Action Team (MAT) leaders, community-based workers and other project-based staffs were already mobilized to continuously monitor for updates on the situation in their respective areas. (FEA/DSWD-Social Marketing Unit/PIA-Caraga)