By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 6 has expressed readiness to provide augmentation assistance and deploy disaster response personnel to areas in Mindanao affected by the recent strong earthquake, should additional support be required.
DSWD-6 Regional Director Joel Melo said the regional office remains on standby despite not yet receiving instructions from the agency’s central office to send relief assistance to affected communities.
Melo assured the public that DSWD-6 has adequate disaster response resources that can be mobilized immediately, including family food packs, ready-to-eat food boxes, non-food relief items, and standby funds.
The agency has also placed its disaster response teams and personnel on alert for possible deployment to assist in various humanitarian operations.
According to Melo, DSWD-6’s personnel are prepared to support camp management activities, provide psychological first aid to affected residents, and perform other disaster response functions if the situation warrants additional intervention.
The regional office continues to monitor developments and remains prepared to extend assistance as government agencies assess the extent of damage and humanitarian needs in earthquake-stricken areas of Mindanao.
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