Cezario Joel Espejo, director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 12. (File photo courtesy of DSWD-12)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has prepared relief packages for residents that will be severely affected by the heightened community quarantine measures in parts of the region.
DSWD-12 Director Cezario Joel Espejo said they have pre-positioned their standby stocks of family food packs in case local government units (LGUs) will need emergency augmentation in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.
Espejo assured that the agency is ready to assist them once their quick response funds (QRF) eventually run out.
“The DSWD is mandated to provide augmentation support to the LGUs and assist in capacitating them to handle emergencies or calamities,” said Espejo, who joined an emergency meeting of South Cotabato officials in Koronadal City on Wednesday afternoon.
To avail of the assistance, the official said the affected localities will need to submit a letter of request, certificate of non-availability of QRF, distribution plan, and list of recipients.
Upon receiving the request, he said their office will endorse the matter to their disaster operation unit.
Espejo said that once approved, the agency will set a schedule for the pickup of goods in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police.
“The LGUs will set the dates for the distribution of the relief assistance to (the affected residents),” he said.
A standard family food pack contains six kilos of rice, four cans of corned beef, four cans of sardines, and six packs of energy drink or coffee. The number of food packs that will be distributed to concerned localities will depend on the request from their LGUs.
Espejo said they will continue to provide medical and burial assistance to indigent residents in coordination with the LGUs.
He added that residents may avail of the financial assistance through the crisis intervention units in the cities of Koronadal, General Santos, Tacurong and Kidapawan, and Surallah town in South Cotabato. (PNA)
