From left to right: DRMD Chief Marites Quismorio, RD Arnel B. Garcia, and Team Leader Amie Marie Castillo during the briefing of augmentation team bound to Catanduanes

Members of the augmentation team from Masbate and Sorsogon during the briefing with RD Arnel Garcia, ARDA Arwin Razo, and DRMD Chief Marites Quismorio

Legazpi City – Twelve DSWD personnel were sent to Catanduanes as augmentation team today, November 6, 2020, on board a Ro-Ro vessel. The team is composed of eleven DSWD personnel from Masbate and one from Sorsogon.

Providing beyond basic needs

Aside from Family Food Packs (FFPs) and Non-Food Items (NFIs), the agency will also focus on providing Psychological First Aid and technical support on Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) to STY Rolly survivors in severely affected areas in the province.

Two (2) members of the augmentation team are trained to conduct Psychological First Aid while seven (7) are trained for CCCM. This initiative aims to lessen the emotional effects of disaster to the survivors allowing them to continue to recover. Camp Coordination and Camp Management provides temporary assistance and protection to displaced population in evacuation centers.

Data Gathering

Communication has been restored in Catanduanes. However, data gathering and validation are still challenging due to limited number of DSWD personnel on the ground. Augmentation staff are also tasked to gather and validate data in municipalities in need of assistance.

Relief Operations in Catanduanes

As of the latest Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) data, DSWD has already provided 7,920 FFPs to affected residents in Catanduanes. The assistance costs a total of PhP 4,886,640. These food packs were initially distributed to Virac, San Andres, Bato, San Miguel, and Baras. In addition, the agency also provided 100 rolls of laminated sacks costing PhP 400,000 and 82 pieces pre-cut laminated sacks amounting to PhP 40,836.

The National Resource Operations Center (NROC) also provided additional aid to DSWD Field Office V. The relief goods will be transported through Philippine Coast Guard Vessel-BRP Gabriela Silang, bound to Catanduanes. The vessel contains 3,000 FFPs, 1,000 Hygiene Kits, 2,000 Kitchen Kits, 450 mosquito nets, 450 Sleeping kits, 400 gallons of mineral water (20L), and 3,944 bottles of mineral water (350ml).