The DSWD is no longer at the forefront in responding to disasters, but it pursues even a bigger role,  said Social Protection Unit Head Virginia Idano of the DSWD Field Office Eight, who read the message of DSWD Regional Director Leticia Diokno, during the opening of the National Disaster Consciousness Month held recently at the Robinson’s Place – Tacloban.

In reading further the message,  she emphasized that in times of disasters,  the DSWD extends technical assistance and augmentation support if the local government units can no longer stand on it own.  Idano said that the DSWD has been rebuilding lives, after some major disasters hit the region in the past years.

“We cannot afford to be mere spectators,”  she pointed out.  Idano underscored the value of the Social Work profession, saying it is more focused on the protection of the vulnerable sector of society.  The DSWD, she stated,  conducts stress debriefing sessions for victims to overcome the trauma as an effect of the disasters,  giving priority to children who are the most affected.

In an interview,  the Social Protection Unit Head reported that the DSWD, as head of the Response Committee of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC),  maintains a ready standby of at least one thousand family food packs in case a local government unit needs back – up support.  She also mentioned the activation of the agency’s Quick Response Team which composes of different committees that attend to the responsibilities of managing a disaster, and the Social Welfare Action Development Teams, that do the same, for the field workers in the different provinces.

With this year’s theme, “Ligtas na Bayan, Maunlad na Pamayanan,”  Idano bared that the DSWD extends technical assistance along disaster preparedness by holding capability – building activities, not only for local social workers but for families and communities as well.