Butuan City- After the public storm signal number 1 was raised in the 5 provinces of the region, the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the DSWD Field Office Caraga is activated today to monitor in the next 48 hours the situation of the affected areas and to gather reports from the local social workers in terms of the number of affected individuals and families due to the Tropical Depression Queenie.

Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli said special committees within the workforce of the Field Office are created to update and provide disaster situations and information.

“The office has already prepositioned a total of 12,000 family packs which are ready for use in the different local government units (LGUs),” bared Brigoli.

“We also have 15,972 family packs on stockpile for augmentation,” she added

The workers in the QRT are diligently monitoring the whole region through the community-based social workers and Municipal Action Team (MAT) leaders who are closely monitoring with the local disaster risk reduction management council (DRRMC) and the municipal social welfare and development office in their respective area of assignment.

Each QRT team is composed of a team leader, statistician, support staff, information officer, and driver.

According to a report from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hourly update, TD Queenie has made landfall around 6pm today in Tandag City. ###(Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)