What is the equivalent of three kilos of rice and a six-pack canned goods?
Immediate relief for a hungry family of five, and this is the immediate goal of every worker of the Department of Social Work & Development, deployed in the devastated areas of District 1 in Negros Oriental that was hit by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake on Feb. 6. These are the towns of Ayungon, Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad, and Guihulngan.
The continuing aftershocks did not deter the determination of DSWD to deliver goods in places impossible to reach by military/dump trucks due to critical conditions brought about by landslides, broken roads, rivers and security threats.
With each threat came the urgent need to give immediate relief especially to those families who lost their homes, livelihood and loved ones, and who now rely on evacuation centers for temporary relief and shelter.
In coordination with the Philippine Air Force headed by Lt. Col. Honasan, approximately 1,863 food packs were scheduled to be delivered to mountain barangays in Guihulngan such as Brgy. Linantuyan, Hinakpan, Plagatasanon and Balwage.
Of the 33 barangays in Guihulngan, more than half have been reached by the local Social Welfare & Services Office, with relief goods consisting of food packs, water, tents, sleeping mats, cooking utensils, and clothing, a respite especially for those who lost everything during the earthquake.
As DSWD continues with its work on giving relief goods, it has also started outlining strategies on setting up and managing evacuation centers as it gets ready to initiate debriefing session with affected families. (PR)
