Tuguegarao City – Staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 02 (DSWD FO2) joined a team that also includes members coming from the Department of Health (DOH) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the conduct of Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) in the provinces of Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.

The endeavor, which started last November 1, 2018, had the group divided into 4 teams, with two teams assigned in the provinces of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, another team to the coastal Isabela towns of Dinapigue, Divilacan, Maconacon and Palanan and another team assigned to conduct RDANA to the rest of the municipalities of Isabela.

To date, three teams have already finished doing their assessments while the team assigned in the coastal towns of Isabela is awaiting the chopper that would fetch them and take them back to Tuguegarao City.

The OCD, again in partnership with the DSWD and DOH, will conduct a post-RDANA meeting today, November 5, 2018, to discuss the results of the RDANA and come up with plans for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

According to the latest report coming from the Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD) of the field office, there are 17,119 partially-damaged houses and 1,857 totally damaged houses in the region. The consolidated data comes from reports of different local government units (LGUs).

A total of 13,353 family food packs amounting to P4,801,920.00 has been given by the DSWD to affected families and individuals in the 3 provinces. ### By: Chester Carlo M. Trinidad, Social Marketing Unit

Reina Mercedes, Isabela – Shekina Glorie Sario’s thoughts were to go home Monday evening to be with her family as Typhoon Rosita began its onslaught in Isabela Province, knowing how hard it is to leave family members during disaster situations.

But as it is when it comes to disaster situations, she chose to stay in the Municipal Action Team (MAT) office to monitor the situation and consolidate reports that would be needed for submission to the DSWD Regional Office.

“We needed to sacrifice in the name of public service. Kinailangan nating isakripisyo ang oras at panahon natin para mabigyan ng serbisyo at tulong ang ating mga kababayan sa Reina Mercedes,” Ms. Sario mentioned.

Aside from conducting visitation and helping the local government unit (LGU) in assessing the needs in evacuation enters to ensure the welfare and protection of evacuees, the MAT team also led the distribution of relief goods to affected families and individuals.

“Kahit basang-basa sa ulan, isinakripisyo natin ang ating panahon at oras na para sana sa ating mga pamilya para makapagbigay ng sapat na serbisyo sa mga mamamayan ng Reina Mercedes,” Ms. Sario added.

During the typhoon’s peak, a total of 12 evacuation centers across 14 barangays were opened in the municipality, thereby guaranteeing that the MAT’s hands were full when it comes to responding to the needs of the evacuees.

A total of 443 families including 1,615 individuals were affected in the municipality as of the latest report coming from the field office’s Disaster Response and Monitoring Team (DMRT).

To augment the needs of affected families in the area, a total of 200 family food packs were distributed by DSWD directly to affected families.

Despite all of these, Ms. Sario and the rest of MAT Reina Mercedes stayed true to their mandate of quick and prompt service even when it means sacrificing sleep and rest to get the job done.

“Basta mabigyan natin ng serbisyo ang ating mga kababayan, kaakibat man nito ay pagod at puyat. It is fulfilling to help people without hoping for anything in exchange,” Ms. Sario concludes.

As of this writing, the MAT Team led by Ms. Sario continues to do response operations in the municipality to cater to the needs of affected families in the area. ### By: Chester Carlo M. Trinidad, Social Marketing Unit

Gonzaga, Cagayan – Ngiti ang namutawi sa mga labi ng mga batang tumira sa Gonzaga People’s Gym, Gonzaga, Cagayan na nagsilbing evacuation center sa lugar noong nanalasa ang Bagyong Rosita.

Lunes ng gabi ng magsimulang magparamdam ang Bagyong Rosita dahilan para ilikas ng Local Government Unit (LGU) katuwang ang Municipal Action Team (MAT) ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) na nakatalaga sa lugar ang mga residente ng Barangay Caroan, Barangay Cabanbanan Norte, Barangay Minanga at Barangay Pateng dahil na rin sa banta ng malakas na hangin na maaaring magdulot ng mataas na daluyong ng tubig.

Aktibo ring tumulong ang MAT Gonzaga sa pangangasiwa ng pamamahagi ng mga pagkain para sa mga apektadong pamilya sa evacuation center.

Dagdag pa rito, naglagay din ng telebisyon upang maaliw ang mga tao.

Hindi naman alintana ng mga bata ang bagyo na nananalasa dahil napanatiling protektado ang evacuation center.

“Sa anumang oras, ang DSWD staff ay handa, maagap at maaasahan upang malagpasan ang anumang sakuna sa pamamagitan ng sama-samang pagbibigay ng serbisyo at kalinga na siyang nagpapakita ng tunay na pagmamalasakit at pagmamahal sa kapwa,” pahayag ni Karen Kaye Macapulay, Municipal Link ng MAT sa lugar.

Patuloy pa rin ang ginagawang pagbabantay ng MAT Gonzaga para sa mga naapektuhan ng Bagyong Rosita.

Base sa huling datos ng DSWD, 4,213 na pamilya na may 14,169 na indibidwal ang naapektuhan ng Bagyong Rosita sa probinsya ng Cagayan. ### By: Margaret G. Arao, Listahanan Information Officer

November 2, 2018 – In the wake of typhoon Rosita, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (MDRRMC) of various municipalities in Cagayan have simultaneously commenced its relief operations to approximately 4,213 families affected in 25 municipalities of the Province of Cagayan.

Prioritizing the 4,213 families currently housed in evacuation centers, family food packs were distributed by Municipal Action Teams (MATs) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 02 (DSWD FO2) amidst rain and moderate winds with assistance from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and staff from local government units (LGUs).

In Lasam, 131 families were previously evacuated after their homes in low lying areas and near riverbanks have become unsafe from the quickly swelling Cagayan river.

“The unrelenting downpour of rain cannot deter us from delivering the much needed food packs because we know these families have lost or left their belongings after being evacuated from their homes,” says Jose Alvin Antiola, the Municipal Link at Lasam, Cagayan.

On the other hand, Kenneth Jay Acidera, a Social Welfare Assistant of Penablanca, Cagayan recounts how difficult it was to traverse places where water levels have consistently risen since the landfall of the typhoon on October 30, 2018.

“It hasn’t stopped raining since last night and the Tawi bridge here is already impassable. We know we had to deliver the food packs for Callao area before the only other bridge in Cabasan gets completely submerged in river water. We had to act fast,” Mr. Acidera said.

Penablanca, one of the southern towns of the province, is bounded by both the Cagayan and Pinacanauan rivers where continuous rain usually causes the swelling of the rivers that would isolate some barangays of the town.

The quick response was activated by the LGUs in response to the needs of displaced families due to the rising water level of the Cagayan River and its tributaries followed by the subsequent opening of one of the water gates of Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela as early as October 29, 2018 causing massive flooding in 13 municipalities. ### By: Jeanet Antolin-Lozano, Social Marketing Unit

Penablanca, Cagayan – Taking advantage of fair weather conditions since the departure of Typhoon Rosita in the region, the Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CV-RDRRMC) led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 02 (DSWD FO2) conducted the 1st Response Cluster Meeting for Typhoon Rosita in Valley Hotel yesterday.

The meeting was conducted for the office to provide information to members of the CV-RDRRMC the updated number of families and individuals affected by the typhoon throughout the region as well as the assistance given by the agency to those who were affected.

The presentation of the agency’s report was done by Mr. Franco G. Lopez, Head of the field office’s Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD).

The gathering was also done to consolidate reports coming from various line agencies for the provision of a more efficient service to regional constituents.

DSWD FO2 Regional Director Leonardo C. Reynoso in his speech expressed his gratitude to council members for the prompt response to the needs of affected people while assuring that an additional 23,700 family food packs will be procured by the field office as soon as possible for augmentation purposes.

As per the report given by the Philippine National Police (PNP), minimal casualty was reported as a result of the typhoon, a testament to the shrewd preparation made by the council to prepare for the typhoon.

As of the moment, there are a total of 19,823 families including 75,554 individuals affected by the typhoon. The field office meanwhile was able to augment an additional 7,050 family food packs to affected areas in the region. ### By: Chester Carlo M. Trinidad, Social Marketing Unit

October 31, 2018 – A day after Typhoon Rosita made landfall in the province of Isabela, the Municipal Action Team (MAT) of Echague has started doing response operations to affected individuals and families in the municipality.

The MAT is also lending a hand to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Echague and other frontline agencies in doing initial rescue and clearing operations in the municipality.

Mr. Paolo L. Laggui, Project Development Officer II of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and MAT member of the municipality, said that coordination with the LGU ensures the prompt delivery of services to families and individuals affected by the typhoon.

“Patuloy ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng Municipal Action Team sa Lokal na Pamahalaan ng Echague upang maghatid ng serbisyo sa mga apektadong pamilya dulot ng Bagyong Rosita,” Mr. Laggui added.

Aside from this, the MAT team also augments the basic needs of those who were evacuated by cooking food for them.

Joan M. Arao, also a Project Development Officer in the area, relishes the fact that they can extend help to those in need during disaster situations.

“Hindi alintana ang pagod, puyat at hirap para makapaghatid ng mapagkalingang serbisyo para sa mga nasalanta nating kababayan,” Ms. Arao added.

To date, 8,365 families including 31,221 individuals were affected by the typhoon in the province.

To address those affected, the field office distributed a total of 3,270 family food packs to the province of Isabela, 160 of which were given to affected families of Echague.

The field office is still on high alert as other parts of the region are still experiencing the brunt of the typhoon, with the Disaster Response and Monitoring Team (DMRT) still on 24/7 duty to consolidate the number of affected families and individuals and assess the needs of those affected based on the reports submitted. ### By: Chester Carlo M. Trinidad, Social Marketing Unit

Ilagan City, Isabela – The secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Rolando Joselito D. Bautista, yesterday arrived in the province of Isabela to monitor the preparedness of the region in response operations for Typhoon Rosita.

Secretary Bautista visited the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Isabela to check on the status of monitoring of affected individuals and families throughout the province.

DSWD Field Office 02 Regional Director Leonardo C. Reynoso, meanwhile took the opportunity to brief the secretary on the status of response operations in the region while assuring the readiness of regional staff to do response measures for the storm.

As part of the visit, a meeting between the secretary and Isabela Governor Bojie G. Dy was held to discuss augmentation procedures that the agency can do to help the province before, during and after the storm.

The secretary will continue to closely monitor the storm and conduct initial validation of damages in Isabela with the assistance of Mr. Franco G. Lopez, Head of the field office’s Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD), today.

As of 12 midnight of October 30, 2018, a total of 964 families including 3,381 individuals are in 59 evacuation centers throughout Isabela.

A total of 3,270 family food packs were given by the field office to municipalities in the province who are in the direct path of the storm prior to its landfall.

Typhoon Rosita made landfall in Dinapigue, Isabela at around 4 AM today. ### By: Chester Carlo M. Trinidad, Social Marketing Unit

Tuguegarao City – More than a month after Typhoon Ompong made landfall over Cagayan province, the field office has fulfilled its mandate for the prompt distribution of assistance to families affected by the typhoon.

To date, a total of 81,566 family food packs where distributed to affected cities/municipalities across the region with a total cost of assistance for food and non-food items totaling P39,311,011.00.

Local Government Units (LGUs) who were given family food packs where then mandated to immediately distribute the assistance to affected constituents for quick provision of aid.

The field office, though lacking in manpower, was able to swiftly retrieve reports of affected families and individuals coming from LGUs which were then used as basis for the provision of relief items to those affected.

Aside from relief goods, the agency shall also provide Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) to families/individuals whose houses were partially/totally-damaged by the typhoon.

According to DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 19 Series of 2018 “Guidelines in the Implementation of the Emergency Shelter Assistance for the Typhoon “Ompong”-affected Households with Damaged Houses,” under Part VIII. Implementation Mechanisms, specifically under Social Preparation of LGUs, Sub Item 1.1.3., the LGU identifies ESA beneficiaries and certifies their duly accomplished application form.

After the lists of beneficiaries are submitted, the field office ensures the master listing of beneficiaries for submission to the DSWD Central Office, which then generates funds for the total budgetary requirement based on the needs of the field office. ### By: Chester Carlo M. Trinidad, Social Marketing Unit