By Zaldy De Layola, July 26, 2024; Philippine News Agency
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1229846
MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Friday ordered the agency’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) to ensure the full automation of the inventory management of the Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC), which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. described in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) as “the central hub for the government’s disaster response effort.”
“We have to perfect the DRCC automation of the inventory management or the Automated Data Management System for Inventory. Basta ang importante, naka-preposition tayo (The important thing is, we have prepositioned [relief goods] with an aggressive digitalized system for inventory),” Gatchalian told DRMG officials during a meeting, according to a news release.
Gatchalian said the prepositioning of relief goods is an innovation of President Marcos.
“This is the vision of the President. We just put this [prepositioning] into action. It was started by then Secretary Erwin Tulfo and we built on it,” Gatchalian earlier said in a TV interview.
In his SONA on Monday, President Marcos acknowledged that the government has established infrastructures that serve as protection and center for coordination, especially along the delivery of services and relief goods.
“Within the past two years, almost a hundred evacuation centers have already been built. While in January of this year, we started the operations of our Disaster Response Command Center, which shall serve as the central hub for the government’s disaster response efforts,” the President said.
Since its launch in January, the DRCC stands as a central hub for disaster monitoring, reporting and coordination of response efforts.
The DRCC utilizes advance information and communication equipment/assets to ensure the seamless collaboration between the DSWD central office, DSWD field offices (FOs), member-agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and other stakeholders.
Gatchalian said the DRCC is reinforced by the Mobile Command Centers (MCCs), which bridge the communication gap during disaster or emergency operations by providing linkage from the disaster-stricken area to the Regional Operations Center (ROC), DRCC or the Regional DRRMC.
Each MCC is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite internet, gadgets, and generators that can be used as a source of power supply and internet connection for communities in disaster areas.
“This means that it can help a lot of affected residents to connect with their loved ones when the power supply in their area is down,” he said.
Aside from aiming to fully automate the DRCC, Gatchalian also ordered the DRMG to develop perfectly the “Buong Bansa Handa” (BBH or Entire Nation Ready) program of the Department.
“The BBH has to be perfected. This BBH program was built for any type of disaster, man-made or natural,” he said.
The BBH establishes two parallel supply chain mechanisms for disaster preparedness and response which enhance the capacity of the Department in meeting the needs of affected families in various disaster-stricken areas.
The first mechanism features a national and local government-driven supply chain that improves the production capacities and processes of the DSWD’s National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City, the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Cebu, and the warehouse and storage facilities across the 16 DSWD FOs.
The second mechanism refers to the Department’s forging of partnerships with established large and small groceries, supermarkets, manufacturers, and distributors to leverage on their technical expertise and resources to create a private sector-driven supply chain.
Under these partnerships, the DSWD aims to achieve a more effective and reliable supply chain, ensuring comprehensive coverage and timely assistance.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has deployed 71 search, rescue, and retrieval (SRR) teams to help in ongoing relief efforts due to the effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon and Typhoon Carina.
In a statement Friday, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the 71 SRR teams consist of 1,882 personnel, along with 66 land assets, 10 water assets and one air asset.
Inclement weather persists in some areas while floods in some provinces in Luzon have yet to subside as of posting time.
“In addition, 557 SRR teams with 5,741 personnel, 428 land assets, 50 water assets, and 10 air assets are on standby alert to ensure readiness for further deployment as needed,” he added.
In line with the President Marcos’ instructions, Trinidad said the military is assisting local government units and the Office of Civil Defense in providing immediate needs to isolated areas, conducting rapid damage assessment and needs analysis and facilitating recovery and relief operations.
Trinidad said the Civil-Military Operations Coordinating Center has been activated to coordinate with government agencies, civic organizations and international humanitarian communities, ensuring continuous delivery of basic services, especially in severely affected areas. (with Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
