NextGen Day

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured on Tuesday that the department is ready to provide assistance to local government units (LGUs) in addressing the potential effects of the El Niño phenomenon and other weather disturbances.

During the News Breaker media forum, Gatchalian emphasized that LGUs play a crucial role as the first responders in disasters and calamities, as mandated by the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act 10121).

“The LGUs will be the first line of defense. The DSWD is part of the NDRRMC [National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council] group, providing additional assistance,” Gatchalian stated.

He mentioned that the DSWD has already stockpiled food and non-food items to be deployed to LGUs, affected families, and communities that may experience the impact of El Niño.

“We are also prepared to provide cash assistance. However, coordination with the LGUs is essential despite our readiness,” Gatchalian added.

Although the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions remains, the effects of El Niño are increasing.

Gatchalian cited a recent incident where Maguindanao del Sur province and Malaybalay City declared a state of calamity due to heavy rainfall comparable to that of a southwest monsoon (habagat) downpour, which significantly disrupted people’s livelihoods.

To address such situations, the DSWD collaborated with local officials, legislators, and provincial government authorities to develop an intervention package.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), an enhanced southwest monsoon season may still be expected, potentially leading to above-normal rainfall conditions in the western part of the country.

Gatchalian mentioned that the intervention package includes providing immediate food assistance to ensure that affected individuals have meals. The DSWD distributed approximately 44,000 family food packs in Maguindanao del Sur and around 3,000 to 4,000 family food packs in Malaybalay.

The DSWD also offered cash-for-work programs to affected families and individuals.

During the same media forum, Gatchalian discussed the Oplan Pag-Abot Project, the DSWD’s latest initiative aimed at establishing a centralized database of families, individuals, and children living on the streets.

He explained that the database is crucial for improving the project’s effectiveness and monitoring the status of the families and individuals who have already received assistance.

“With this database, we will have a better understanding of their numbers, their province of origin, and the reasons behind their situation. We are building their profiles,” Gatchalian explained.

The database will also indicate whether the families and individuals have previously been assisted.

Through this comprehensive database, the DSWD can provide tailored interventions to meet the specific needs of each client, aiming to prevent them from returning to street living.

Gatchalian highlighted that everyone has the right to identity, and the establishment of this database is the first step towards fulfilling that right. After the DSWD’s reach-out operations, individuals will receive identification cards for the first time in their lives.

The DSWD is currently implementing the database by collecting clients’ biometrics and conducting interview assessments at designated processing centers following the reach-out operations.

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