DSWD pleads for helping hands

The Department of Social Welfare and Development wants you.

The DSWD has put out an urgent appeal for more volunteers to help pack relief goods after an avalanche of aid has started to pour in for the millions of people in 36 provinces who were affected by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said the DSWD flashed an appeal on social media, including its website, on Twitter, Facebook and social blogs to reach out to as many able hands as possible.

Soliman said that aside from downed communication and transportation systems, a lack of manpower was hampering the distribution of relief goods.

Earlier, the DSWD reported that 9,530,000 persons from 2,100,000 families had been affected as of Sunday based on reports by local government units in Regions IV-A and B, V, VI, VII, VIII, X and Caraga, which continue to assess the extent of the disaster.

A total of 96,039 families composed of 449,416 persons were still at 1,790 evacuation centers, while 36,627 families oR 182,379 persons remained with relatives and friends.

Soliman said she had instructed the DSWD field offices in the affected regions to work double time and ensure the speedy distribution of food packs to the victims.

“We have to move fast considering the extent of the devastation. People in the worst-hit areas need food, water and medicine,” she said.

The secretary has remained in Tacloban City to assess the situation and oversee the distribution of relief goods.

The DSWD has provided an initial P6.4 million in relief assistance to affected families in Bicol, Western Visayas and Central Visayas.

Some 25,000 food packs and 4,310 bottles of water are scheduled to be airlifted to them.

Repacking of family food packs continues at the DSWD National Resource Operations Center (NROC) on Chapel Road in Pasay City and at DSWD regional offices.

Those who wish to volunteer may call NROC at 8512681 or 5111259 for a schedule.