Legazpi City, Albay – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V – Bicol Region, through its Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD), held a virtual conference to reaffirm the disaster response and relief augmentation guidelines for partner Local Government Units (LGUs), stakeholders, and congressional representatives in the region. The event took place from January 16 to 18, 2025.

The meeting, led by Regional Director Norman S. Laurio, brought together Local Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDOs), Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMOs), congressional district representatives, and other key stakeholders to emphasize the agency’s policies, laws, and memorandum circulars related to relief augmentation, technical assistance, and disaster-related interventions.

One of the main topics discussed was the standard operating procedures, required documentation, and processes involved in requesting relief augmentation from the agency. Director Laurio stressed the importance of adhering to established protocols to ensure the swift and efficient delivery of relief packs and other assistance to affected communities.

The DRMD Division Chief also underscored DSWD’s critical role as the vice chairperson for the response pillar during disasters, as mandated by Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

Additional topics covered in the meeting included key guidelines such as Memorandum Circular No. 24, Series of 2024: Enhanced Omnibus Guidelines on Food and Non-Food Items and Logistics Management for Disaster Response Operations; Memorandum Circular No. 16, Series of 2023: Guidelines on the Implementation of Early Recovery Programs and Services for Disaster-Stricken Families; and the Enhanced Guidelines on Disaster Response Operations Monitoring Information and Communication (DROMIC) Report.

The conference aimed to strengthen coordination between DSWD, LGUs, and other stakeholders by ensuring that all parties are aligned with the processes, documentation, and responsibilities required during disasters. Crucially, the meeting sought to foster improved collaboration and build stronger partnerships to ensure the timely and effective delivery of disaster response services.###