DSWD Field Office Caraga and the Local Government Unit of Butuan City inked today the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the soon to rise Mindanao Disaster Resource Center (MDRC) during the Department’s 71st Anniversary Celebration on March 22, 2022 in Watergate Hotel, Butuan.

The signing was graced by the Department Secretary himself, Rolando Joselito Bautista, Undersecretary Luzviminda Ilagan, Assistant Secretary Jade Jamolod, and the City Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada alongside with the Regional Director Ramel Jamen. The MOA formalizes the support of the LGU to provide a conducive land area for the MDRC.

Butuan City is seen to be geographically ideal for the disaster resource center since its major roads connect it to nearby cities. One great factor considered was its accessibility through its commercial airport and nearby major seaports. The proposed MDRC will be the sole disaster resource center in Mindanao.

With its estimated proposed budget of 800M pesos, the resource center will be able to preposition a total of 100,000 Food and Non-food Items. Once operational, relief augmentation and other disaster operations would be faster and more accessible not just in Caraga but to nearby regions in Mindanao and Visayas as well.