Butuan City- As Caraga braced for Supertyphoon “Ruby” (international name: Hagupit), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 13 has activated its Quick Response Team (QRT) on a 24/7 basis.

“We have assigned workers in every municipality since we are also implementing different programs and so people especially our beneficiaries can approach them for any concern,” Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli said.

RD Brigoli added that all staffs are alerted and mandated to monitor and submit updated real time reports.

While the local government units (LGUs) serve as the direct providers of assistance during disaster operations, the DSWD is mandated to extend augmentation to the LGUs when requested by their chief executives.

“The office has already pre-positioned family packs in the different municipalities across the region which are ready for use in the different local government units (LGUs),” bared Brigoli.

“We also have 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 office, and driver.

Also, Brigoli shared that the DSWD is willing to augment working staff to the Office of the Civil Defense operation center whenever they need help.

As part of the preparations all member – agencies of the Regional Disaster Response Cluster (RDRC) held an emergency meeting yesterday at the DSWD Caraga Conference Hall, Butuan City presided by the DSWD regional director. Updates of typhoon “Ruby”, preparations per RDC member, and pre – emptive measures were discussed.

All local DRRMCs are advised to activate their incident command system, conduct pre – emptive evacuation in high risk areas, and preposition response assets such as personnel, equipment, food, supplies, and evacuation center.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Caraga, which is composed of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Province of Dinagat Island is identified in red alert level.

The impact of this alert level, according to PAGASA, include heavy damage to agricultural; some large trees uprooted; moderate to heavy disruption of electrical power and communication services; and travel by land, sea and air is dangerous. ###(DSWD FO Caraga)