DSWD prioritizes distribution of food, water to Odette victims

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the government prioritizes food and water distribution to the typhoon Odette victims. However, there is no timeline yet on when houses would be rebuilt.

“The Cash for Work program is a part of our emergency shelter assistance for rehabilitation, and we will discuss this. But the priority now is distributing food, and clean drinking water has given that assessment of the damages is still ongoing,” DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We will discuss the Cash For Work, but in the meantime, we will ensure that those in evacuation centers and camp site facilities will be given the assistance they need,” she added.

The Cash for Work program provides temporary employment to distressed or displaced Filipinos.

According to Dumlao, the DSWD has provided P36 million worth of food assistance so far.

ADVERTISEMENT

“This figure can still increase given that communications are still down in a lot of areas and our field officers are yet to receive a full report,” Dumlao said.

“Our NFA (National Food Authority) stockpile is still enough, and these are the ones we are using for the food packs distributed in Eastern and Western Visayas,” she added.

Meanwhile, Dumlao responded to Bohol governor Art Yap’s comment that the DSWD does not hear their plea for financial assistance.

ADVERTISEMENT

DSWD prioritizes distribution of food, water to Odette victims

“We understand the sentiments, but we also have to understand that there are also no supermarkets where they can buy goods since these were also destroyed by the typhoon,” she said.

“Rest assured that relief operations, especially provision of food and water, is continuous.”

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of calamity in areas hit by Typhoon Odette on Tuesday.

This includes Mimaropa (Region 4-B), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), and Caraga (Region 13).

“The declaration of a state of calamity will hasten the rescue and relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector including kung saan galing tulong, be it outside or tayo-tayo lang (where help will come from, whether it be outside or just among ourselves). This will also be an effective mechanism to control the prices of goods and commodities in the areas,” he said.

Visit our Facebook page for more  updates.