DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman. INQUIRER.net/Matikas Santos
MANILA, Philippines—A record 178 volunteers on Thursday responded to Social Welfare Sectary Dinky Soliman’s call through the social media for help in relief distribution in areas critically affected by the torrential rains.
Soliman said she was pleased with the quick response from the people, particularly the youth, who heeded her call through the YouTube alone to help the DSWD in repacking pack relief goods intended for families displaced by the massive flooding.
She said the DSWD had maximized the use of social networking to ensure the smooth relief distribution and operations in areas affected during calamities and found it very effective.
The DSWD also has Twitter and Facebook accounts where calls for volunteers were posted and re-tweeted and shared.
“Twitter and Facebook accounts also play a vital role in terms of calls for help. The DSWD learned about people needing relief goods through twitter and facebook twits,” the secretary said.
While conventional telephone lines often go down or become overwhelmed during a disaster, Internet connections often remain active and usable. “People can get out texts or tweets way easier than they can get out a phone call, and social media, backed by an array of ‘citizen journalists’ have become critical tools in coping with natural disasters, particularly in disaster-prone countries like the Philippines,” Soliman.
Benito Ramos, executive director of the National Disaster Response and Risk Management Council (NDRRMC), said the council started using the social media as tools in disaster response this year.
Ramos said the NDRRMC has incorporated Facebook and Twitter in its monitoring system and website for quick response.
Soliman said that volunteers could go to the DSWD-National Resource Operations Center (NROC) at NAIA Chapel Road, Pasay City (beside the Airport Police Department and back of Transportation Office) or call 852-8081 and 851-2681; the DSWD-NCR office along Legarda street in Sampaloc, Manila, with telephone number 734-86-40; and the DSWD-Region IV-A in Alabang, Muntinlupa with telephone number 807-4144..
She said that priority would be given to critical areas in Central Luzon and Metro Manila for relief distribution.
A total of 294 evacuation centers remain open in affected regions serving 31,379 families composed of 149,050 persons. Likewise, 48,536 families with 244,424 persons are outside evacuation centers but are nonetheless provided with relief assistance.
In the National Capital Region, 16,503 families composed of 77,918 individuals were affected by continuous rains and flooding. A total of 14,225 families or 68,372 individuals are presently staying in 107 evacuation centers.
DSWD-NCR sent 800 food packs and 115 boxes of energy biscuits to four affected areas in Quezon City, particularly in Barangay (village) Sta. Lucia, Bagong Silangan, Holy Family Church and Roxas District.
DSWD-NCR has released P3,619,420 worth of assistance to nine affected LGUs in NCR. The assistance consisted of food packs, blankets and mattresses.
In Region 3 (Central Luzon), a total of 208,016 families with 822,312 persons were affected by continuous rains.
Also, 59 evacuation centers remain open in Region 3 serving 3,358 families or 14,160 persons, while some 5,376 families or 26,384 persons were served in their respective communities.
Soliman said the total amount of assistance extended to family-victims in Region 3 has reached P2.4 million, composed mainly of family packs, rice, canned goods, mats, clothes, and blankets from the DSWD (P753,640), concerned local government units (P1,558,756.00) and non-government organizations (P90,000).
She said that DSWD workers has been assisting their colleagues in affected local government units in management of evacuation centers, assessment of needs of victims, relief distribution and stress debriefing.