As part of the efforts of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to strengthen logistics preparedness, the Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB), through the DSWD Field Office Caraga, is conducting a capacity assessment, which focuses on gathering logistics information of ports (Sea and Air) for transporting and receiving relief commodities around areas in Caraga Region.

The DRMB, represented by technical staff from the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB), together with the United Nations – World Food Programme (UN-WFP), represented by Radjemma Lao, Logistics Assistant, and

Ma. Olivia Cortez, Storekeeper, is conducting a Logistics Capacity Assessment (LCA) and Logistics Services Market Assessment (LSMA) in regions that are part of the Eastern Seaboard – an area known for its vulnerability to typhoons and other weather disturbances due to its exposure to the Pacific Ocean.

Caraga Region, which happens to be one of the areas in the Eastern Seaboard, is one of the priority areas for the said activity for its vulnerability, especially since typhoon season has already commenced.

Through this activity, DSWD and UN-WFP aim to align current government needs and produce an updated reference that can be utilized by both government and humanitarian actors in planning emergency operations, most importantly, the entry of relief goods through the region’s various seaports and airports.

The team, which has been conducting the said assessment starting August 18, 2025, has since visited the Philippine Ports Authority-Port Management Office Agusan (August 18), Philippine Ports Authority-Terminal Management Office Masao (August 19), Philippine Ports Authority-Port Management Office Surigao (August 19), Surigao City Airport (August 19), Philippine Ports Authority-Terminal Management Office Dapa (August 20), Sayak/Siargao (Del Carmen) Airport (August 20), and Philippine Ports Authority-Terminal Management Office San Jose (Province of Dinagat Islands), today, August 21, 2025.

The team will then have its final schedule with the visit to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Area 12 Office and the Bancasi Airport in Butuan City on August 22, 2025, before closing it with an Exit Conference together with the Office of the Civil Defense to discuss the results of the LCA and LSMA, also on the same date.

DSWD Field Office Caraga will continue to support activities that will strengthen its capacity to address challenges in its disaster operations. With this, the Field Office is thankful to the DRMB and the UN-WFP for prioritizing Caraga for the said visit.