Pasay City: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is appealing for volunteers to assist in the production of family food packs (FFPs) to support families impacted by the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island. The need for additional manpower at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC), located in Barangay 195, Pasay City, has become critical in order to expedite relief efforts.
According to Philippines News Agency, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) emphasized the importance of community involvement in relief operations. "We are calling on our kababayans in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby areas to help in the agency's repacking operations at the NROC. In times of calamities, it is our deep sense of Bayanihan that allows us to stay resilient and ensure swift delivery of aid to communities in need. Now is the perfect time to put our compassion to action," stated Dumlao in a news release.
For those interested in volunteering, coordination can be made with Ma. Shara Lee, Kevin Sanchez, and Wea Buranday through their respective mobile numbers. Volunteers are advised to wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes, and to bring their own bottled water and packed meals for the duration of their service.
Following the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on Tuesday morning, Secretary Rex Gatchalian directed DSWD field offices to work alongside local government units (LGUs) and other agencies to assess and address the needs of displaced families. The agency has assured LGUs of resource augmentation, highlighting the strategic prepositioning of over 150,000 FFPs in Negros Island to facilitate efficient relief operations.
DSWD's Disaster Response Operations Management reported that 12,761 families, comprising 48,850 individuals, have been affected by the eruption. Currently, 2,608 families, or 8,316 individuals, are housed in 22 evacuation centers, while 3,702 families, or 11,892 individuals, are staying with friends or relatives.
Dumlao noted a minor increase in the number of affected families but reassured that the DSWD is well-prepared, with more than 2.6 million boxes of FFPs and other non-food items available nationwide to support LGUs. Since the eruption on December 9, the DSWD has delivered over PHP131 million in humanitarian aid to those affected, aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr's directive to ensure no one goes hungry during disasters.
