Depending on the weather, it takes approximately four to five hours to travel at least 200 kilometers from Tacloban City to Catarman, Northern Samar. However, during disaster operations, time becomes a critical factor, and the ability to deliver relief items quickly becomes important, especially to municipalities in Northern and Eastern Samar which are usually along the typhoon’s path.
In anticipation of this need, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has partnered with the management of the University of Eastern Philippines to set up a temporary hub in the UEP campus in Catarman.
Through this partnership, DSWD can store its relief items (such as family food packs, tarpaulins, sleeping kits, etc.) even before disasters strike. Now that these relief items are strategically placed at the center of Northern Samar, DSWD can conduct an initial response in Northern Samar using these relief items while additional goods are being transported from DSWD’s main hub in Tacloban City.
This was the case during the recent typhoon Tisoy, when DSWD was able to draw on its resources from the UEP hub to conduct an initial response in Northern Samar. Also, when augmentation from Tacloban arrived, UEP served as an emergency storage facility for the relief items.
Just last weekend, DSWD Regional Director Marie Angela Gopalan inspected the hubs, and visited the team conducting relief operations in Northern Samar.
This partnership was made possible through the efforts of Northern Samar Social Welfare Action Development Team Leader Nena Getalado. DSWD also has another hub located in Borongan City, Eastern Samar, for the same purpose.
photo credits Nena Getalado
