DSWD strengthens coordination with Dinagat Islands LGUs for Odette response

Posted on January 16, 2022

OIC-Regional Director Ramel Jamen discusses the augmentation efforts of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) done in the Province of Dinagat Islands to the local government unit personnel. With him are DSWD Undersecretary Felicisimo Budiongan (center) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya (1st person from L).

The DSWD Field Office Caraga, together with other members of the Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), held a consultative dialogue with the Provincial Local Government Unit of Dinagat Islands and various local government units (LGUs) in the island to strengthen coordination and discuss points of collaboration that will help them deliver a more effective and systematic augmentation response to the families affected by #OdettePh.

During the meeting, LGUs were given ample time to raise and address their concerns to the council members of the RDRRMC. In response, the council committed that they will incessantly work closely with the LGUs to ensure that these matters are dealt with accordingly.

DSWD USec. Felicisimo Budiongan hands over PHP 5,000 as cash assistance to a beneficiary during the ceremonial turnover of cash assistance and family food packs in San Jose, Dinagat Islands on January 13, 2022.

After the meeting, DSWD Undersecretary Felicisimo Budiongan and FO Caraga OIC-Regional Director Ramel Jamen led the ceremonial turnover of family food packs (FFPs) and distribution of cash assistance amounting to PHP 5,000 to 20 families from the municipality of San Jose. They were joined by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya.

The provision of cash assistance is one of the interventions delivered by DSWD, through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program, in addition to its relief support in areas affected by the “Odette” onslaught. Further, FO Caraga is scheduled to continue its distribution of cash assistance to other LGUs in Dinagat Islands next week.

*DSWD personnel pose for a photo with the beneficiaries after the ceremonial turnover.*

Prior to the ceremonial turnover of cash assistance and FFPs, various food and non-food items have immediately been delivered and augmented to the different LGUs on the island to ensure that affected families receive the help they urgently need. In addition, FO Caraga had also set up an emergency operations center in the municipality of San Jose right away to personally monitor and track the deliveries coming onto the island and ensure a smooth transfer of donations or augmentation assistance to the LGUs.

Despite the challenges encountered by the field office, DSWD FO Caraga remains true to its commitment to deliver “serbisyong may malasakit” by combining efforts with its partner agencies and LGUs to respond to the cry for help of the communities affected by Super Typhoon Odette/Rai.