The rainy season is in! And with this wet season come storms that may affect the Region. On average, 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Fortunately, The Department of Social Welfare and Development is prepared and is helping others become prepared as well.

Recently, DSWD staff from the Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) attended and served as resource persons for the Family and Community Disaster Preparedness, Camp Coordination and Camp Management seminar, which was conducted by the City Government of Tacloban, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO). This seminar was held at the Tacloban City Pilot Evacuation Center at Brgy. 91, Abucay, Tacloban City.

During this seminar, DSWD staff under the leadership of DRMD Division Chief Pauline Nadera oriented officials and volunteers from different barangays in Tacloban City on various aspects of disaster response. According to DRMD Division Chief Pauline Nadera, the barangay officials and volunteers are the frontline soldiers in disaster response, and as such, play a very big role during disaster response.

DSWD introduced the DROMIC reporting system (Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center), which is a virtual reporting system used by DSWD to gather, consolidate and organize information on disasters and the people who are affected. DSWD also discussed the importance of Family Preparedness, in training all the members of the family to be ready for storms. Owing to experiences during supertyphoon Yolanda, DSWD staff also shared several practical tips, such as what to do before, during and after a disaster.

“During disasters, Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) lose access to food, water, sanitation, education, health and a safe space to live. The way the evacuation site is set up and managed affects the dignity and the capacity of recovery of the families affected. ” concluded DRMD Division Chief Pauline Nadera, who shared her expertise in Camp Coordination and Camp Management to the volunteers.

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