Thanking before some 19 representatives of various international development organizations, DSWD Secretary Corazon ‘Dinky’ Soliman reported that as of December 12 of this year, the agency has already distributed some 3,009,076 rice and food packs to 280, 968 displaced families of typhoon Yolanda. It has also given out non -food items to the victims, such as tents – 4,108 pieces, tarpaulins – 7,302, mosquito nets – 16,660, blankets – 51, 820, hygiene kits – 15, 971, and mats – 16, 691.

Other non – food items distributed were used clothing – 2, 848 pieces, plastic cups – 48, 338, water container – 134, 913, plastic pail – 2,627, slippers – 2,216, cooking pots – 4,231, towel – 3,183, and flashlight, 204.

Secretary Dinky pointed out in her talk that without their support, the said number will not be realized. She even announced that the DSWD will work through Christmas and New Year on a rotation basis from among its employees.

The visiting officials, who composed the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA), gathered at the DSWD Regional Operations Center at Barangay Apitong of Tacloban City yesterday, December 12 of this year, for a site visit.

In the briefing on the relief operation that followed, DSWD Assistant Secretary Camilo Gudmalin told them that the DSWD is now on its 16th round of relief operation in the 60 Yolanda hit municipalities and three cities of Region Eight. He explained that the agency is following the directive of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to cover the 50 – kilometer radius of the killer typhoon, reporting Leyte as the most affected province.

Gudmalin added that to better service the region, there are two other relief hubs for storage and repacking of relief commodities, namely : Isabel town of Leyte and Catbalogan in Samar. The one at Guiuan in Eastern Samar is a distribution hub.

Among the development partners which were represented were the Spanish Agency for International Development Corporation, UNICEF, Australian Agency for International Development, International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation. The Ambassadors or representatives of Switzerland, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Japan were also part of the visiting team.