Experts tapped to help evacuation centers

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office-7 has tapped the expertise of the International Organization of Migrants and Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Agencies in the operation of Evacuation Centers/ Camps (ECs) in disaster-stricken areas.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Camilo Gudmalin in a statement said expertise from these two partners is much needed to refresh both national and local social workers and other service providers on how an evacuation center or camp will be managed including the kinds of information needed as well as tools to come up with a uniform and standard structure for all ECs.

With these new inputs, conditions in the 74 ECs in the earthquake stricken towns of Guihulngan (39 ECs), Jimalalud ( (3 ECs), La Libertad (10 ECs) and Tayasan (22 ECs) , all in Negros Oriental, will be improved to see participation of the displaced individuals and families and ensure that their rights are protected through adequate service delivery.

Gudmalin added that climate change is real and that the DSWD has to improve its management in terms of its responses as the future will be more difficult and challenging to handle.

He said DSWD will not just work for the better but smarter as well. Further, he shared the fearless forecast of having more natural calamities in the future as the country is foreseen to experience 25 typhoons a year plus the fact that it is located in the ring of fire . 

With the inputs given, the DSWD intends to put into place disaster preparedness measures like more effective warning system, disaster risk mapping, evacuation plans, warehousing and logistics and conducting family disaster preparedness training down in the municipal, city and barangay levels.

Added to this is the enhancement of skills for the DSWD’s standing Quick Response Teams (QRT) and do more simulations and drills to become effective responders.

DSWD-7 is now mass producing its Family Access Cards (FAC) to be used for the 74 identified evacuation centers in Negros Oriental. — (FREEMAN)