Gatchalian orders full automation in preposition of relief goods

MANILA, Philippines — Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the full automation of the agency’s inventory management system to speed up the prepositioning of relief goods in times of disaster.

Gatchalian said the full automation of the inventory management of the Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC) is crucial in disaster response.

“We have to perfect the DRCC Automated Data Management System for Inventory. What is important is that we have prepositioned relief goods with an aggressive digitalized system for inventory,” he noted.

In his third State of the Nation Address last Monday, President Marcos described the DRCC as “the central hub for the government’s disaster response effort.”

This prompted Gatchalian to order DRCC officials to implement the full automation of inventory, underscoring that 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,” he earlier claimed.

The DRCC utilizes advanced information and communication equipment or assets to ensure the seamless collaboration between the DSWD Central Office, DSWD Field Offices, member-agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and other stakeholders.

It also has mobile command centers, with each center 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.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) has distributed relief assistance to families staying in evacuation centers in Tondo, Manila.

Around 1,600 families staying in nine evacuation centers in Tondo’s Delpan and Baseco communities were given relief boxes in an operation conducted by the OVP’s Disaster Operations Center (DOC).

Each relief box contained food packs as well as hygiene kits, blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, slippers, expandable water jugs and other needed necessities, the OVP said in a statement.

The OVP said its DOC is coordinating with various local government units (LGUs) in the areas affected by the typhoon for the conduct of its relief operations.

The office added its DOC is also scheduled to hand out relief goods to typhoon-hit residents living in coastal communities in Noveleta, Cavite.

Medicine price freeze

The Department of Health (DOH) has ordered that prices of 148 medicines and drug products be frozen following the destruction brought by Typhoon Carina in Metro Manila and other provinces.

“Prices in an area under a state of calamity or under an emergency shall be automatically frozen at their prevailing prices under automatic price control for a period of 60 days unless sooner lifted,” the DOH said.

Some medicines included in the price freeze are anesthetics, analgesics, anti-asthma, anti-diabetics and vitamins and minerals.

Areas covered by the price control are Metro Manila, Batangas, Cainta, Rizal, Cavite, Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, Bataan and Bulacan.

The DOH advised the public to report those violating the price freeze order. Reports can be coursed through DOH Hotlines: (632) 8651-7800 local 5003-5004 or (632) 165-364. — Rhodina Villanueva, Elizabeth Marcelo