While the search and rescue operations continue in the earthquake-devastated areas in Negros Oriental, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) activated and put under “red alert” status its quick response teams to assist in the relief operations.
The agency loaded 30 tents, 330 mats, 318 blankets, 275 mosquito nets, 2,000 bottled mineral waters, 2,000 family packs, 160 boxes of canned goods (sardines and beef loaf) for shipment to the affected areas yesterday afternoon.
These goods will be distributed to the earthquake victims in Guihulngan City, which is the hardest hit, and the municipalities of La Libertad, Bindoy and Tayasan.
The DSWD is doubling its efforts to pack additional goods for the next round of shipment and relief distribution in the other affected municipalities in Negros Oriental.
A donation desk is placed at the DSWD-7 office along M.J. Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City, to accept donations for the earthquake victims.
One may call the earthquake hotline 2321192.
DSWD-7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre instructed the staff to go on a 24-hour duty and fielded stress debriefers to conduct psycho-social intervention to the affected families.
“We are now keeping in touch with our local counterparts in Negros Oriental to generate updates for provision of augmentation support especially,” Macapobre said.
Around 1,100 victims had been reported to the DSWD-7 with 15 confirmed dead and 29 missing in Negros Oriental as of 11 a.m. yesterday.