DSWD-Caraga sends P2.8M relief aid to LGUs affected
by TS Basyang
By Eunice Montaos Plaza
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 17 – The Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga provided augmentation support to the
local government units (LGUs) of the municipalities of Sison, Gigaquit, Mainit,
and Carrascal, which were seriously hit by tropical storm Basyang on February
12 to 13, 2018.
With the huge number of affected families, the LGU
of the said municipalities requested the agency’s augmentation support to
assist the families who are still staying at the evacuation centers, as of
reporting time.
The regional office mobilized its field staff
stationed at the affected towns to assist the local social welfare and
development offices (LSWDOs) in providing relief goods, both food and non-food
items amounting to P2,809,139.18 in total.
In Mainit, DSWD-Caraga provided 1,000 family food
packs, malongs, blankets, and plastic mats. There were also 1,150 dignity kits
given.
In Carrascal, the agency augmented 1,500 family
food packs, and 500 dignity kits, malongs, blankets, mosquito nets, and plastic
mats.
For the municipality of Sison, the field office
gave 1,364 family food packs, 70 dignity kits, 2,000 1-liter water, and 500
malong, mosquito nets, and plastic mats.
In the town of Gigaquit, 1,350 family packs, 300
dignity kits, and 990 malongs and plastic mats were given.
As of reporting time, respective
Provincial/City/Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees
(P/C/MDRRMCs) across the region are still on active status and the Social
Welfare and Development (SWAD) Team, and Provincial/City/Municipal Action Team
(P/C/MAT) are constantly monitoring in coordination with the LSWDOs and LDRRMOs
for data generation and reporting.
Per latest report received by the Quick Response
Team (QRT) of DSWD-Caraga, TD Basyang has affected four provinces with 33
municipalities and 1 city in the region.
A total of 776 families or 3,496 persons are inside
the 15 existing evacuation centers (EC) while a total of 56 families with 187
persons served outside ECs.
From the start of the disaster operation in Caraga
Region, 154 ECs were activated evacuation centers.
DSWD Caraga OIC Regional Director Mita Chuchi
Gupana-Lim, together with the whole workforce of DSWD-Caraga, extends her
sympathy to the families of the eight (8) lost lives due to the landslides and
floods caused by TD Basyang.
“Our prayers go to the families who have lost their
loved ones because of Basyang,” expressed Lim.
The regional director also assured those affected
families and individuals that the DSWD-Caraga is on active standby and in close
coordination with the LGUs monitoring the status and needs in this time of
calamity.
“As to those who are still staying at the
evacuation camps, we at the regional office are trying our very best to assist
the LGUs. Rest assured that we have ready and available resources to provide
necessary augmentation support if needed.” said Lim. (EMPlaza/Social Marketing
Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Kalahi-CIDSS Caraga holds suppliers’ conference
solar-powered projects
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 17 – In response to the need for
supplementary energy provision through renewable energy technology, the
Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social
Services (KaIahi-CIDSS) hosted a forum dubbed 'Suppliers Conference for
Solar-Powered Sub-Projects' held at Prince Hotel Convention Center, this city.
The conference aimed to establish a common
understanding and interpretation among key stakeholders on the technical
aspects of the program implementation, especially with solar street light
projects.
In attendance were KaIahi-CIDSS workers, Engr.
Jovenal L. Bernat, Regional Community Infrastructure Specialist, Engr. Esphar
Lamela, Regional Procurement Officer, and representatives from different
suppliers marketing solar power materials.
The activity was a good venue especially that
stakeholders were able to discuss enhancements on the designs and specifications
whatever to the applicability of the new technology approach.
The conference was also an opportune time to
discuss about the technicalities and details of the program implementation.
Specifically, they tackled on the clarification of contracts between suppliers
and DSWD-Kalahi CIDSS, bidding and signing of contract and breach of contract.
It was made clear during the forum that the Regional Director will be the
authorized person to discontinue any breached contracts depending on the level
of violation.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Caraga OIC-Regional Director Mita Chuchi G. Lim specifically instructed the
engineering unit of the program to ensure that future engagements with the
suppliers and the community should be well-planned and in accordance to the set
guidelines. In more than a decade of the program’s implementation, issues with
contracts and procurement have caused delays in the completion of the program
implementation causing problems to the communities who are recipients of the
sub-projects.
The KaIahi-CIDSS is a program of DSWD which aims to
provide support to the community in alleviating them from poverty through
community’s active participation. (SMLorenzo/ MDDReyes/Social Marketing
Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
DSWD Field Office X conducts field visit in
Kalahi-CIDSS Caraga champion town
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 17 – Around 130
Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social
Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) workers from Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) Field Office 10 conducted a cross-learning visit in Field
Office Caraga. The team was able to visit the evacuation center-community
sub-project in the municipality of Hinatuan, this province.
Successfully implemented in 2017, the Kalahi-CIDSS
sub-project in Barangay Bitoon was considered as the biggest evacuation center
nationwide. The P14-million worth
community sub-project became the subject for the visit since DSWD Caraga was
the only Kalahi-CIDSS implementing region that was able to complete such
infrastructure with a tight budget. This was because of the combined efforts of
the different partner-stakeholders, led by community volunteers from different
barangays in the municipality.
“Diri gayud nako nasulayan sa Kalahi-CIDSS kung
unsa ka-importante ang transparency sa pagpadagan sa usa ka-proyekto. Bisan pa
adunay mga pagsulay ang niagi sa amuang organisasyon, nagpabilin kami nga
madasigon; tungod niini, naangkon namo ang proyekto nga dugay na namong
gihandom. (It is only through Kalahi-CIDSS that I have experienced how
important transparency in implementing a project was. Even though our
organization faced trials, we remained courageous; because of this, we achieved
the project that we have long been dreaming of),” Cris Tarona, the Barangay
Sub-Project Management Committee Chairperson said during the focus group
discussion (FGD).
The FGD was facilitated by the Area Coordinating
Team (ACT), the Municipal Local Government Unit of Hinatuan, and the
Sub/Regional Program Management Office.
The visitors commended the empowered volunteers as
they narrated their stories of challenges, strategies, and best practices
implementing the Community-Driven Development (CDD) Program. The said community
sub-project was a great challenge for the stakeholders to complete. But with
its completion, it has greatly impacted the communities in Hinatuan.
Shem “Titing” Garay, Municipal Mayor of Hinatuan,
recognized the proper and consistent coordination of the volunteers in their
effort to successfully finish the biggest evacuation center in the Philippines,
and thanked the visitors for coming to their municipality to learn from the
success and challenges encountered by Hinatuan in the implementation of the
program. (JRPMillama/ MDDReyes/Social
Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
