Guiuan, Eastern Samar — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that assistance for survivors of Typhoon Yolanda will continue, with priority focus on transferring those living in tents to safer and comfortable shelters.
This was agreed during the 5th Inter-Cluster Meeting on Rehabilitation Efforts in ‘Yolanda’-hit areas held over the weekend at the Eastern Samar State University-Guiuan. It was presided over by Sec. Soliman.
While the transfer is being planned out, DSWD continues to provide emergency shelter kits in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
To date, 11,979 shelter kits have already been distributed to ‘Yolanda’ survivors in Eastern Visayas.
The Shelter Cluster also reported that in partnership with humanitarian agencies, 136,267 households were provided with roofing solutions while 571,454 households were given emergency shelter solutions like tarpaulins and tents.
Sec. Soliman added that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) committed to release funds for the shelter assistance based on the rehabilitation plans of implementing agencies including the budget for the construction of core shelter houses after all the documentary requirements are submitted, such as available lands for relocation.
Cluster Updates
The Education Cluster headed by the Department of Education (DepEd) reported that its accomplishments include the peaceful opening of regular classes on June 2.
Other accomplishments include the implementation of the catch-up-learning program last summer, establishment of 4,300 temporary learning centers, repair of more than 400 day care centers, and training of 3,900 educators in disaster related topics.
Sec. Soliman shared that at the national level, a Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of DSWD, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Department of Labor (DOLE) was created to map the out-of-school-youth (OSY) in all ‘Yolanda’- stricken regions. She recommended that the TWG be replicated at the regional level to address the needs of OSYs.
On the other hand, the Nutrition Cluster reported that it will adopt the strategies undertaken under the Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM) to ensure that the health of children are taken care of. These include community mobilization, out-patient therapeutic program (OTP), in-patient therapeutic program (ITP), and supplementary feeding program (SFP) with integration of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) program.
The Health Cluster is focusing on preventing outbreaks of diseases such as dengue and measles. Member-agencies are conducting information drive on dengue and the immunization of children against measles.
The cluster is also addressing the mental and psychosocial health of the affected families and has allocated resources for the repair of priority health centers.
In support to this, Sec. Soliman shared that DSWD will conduct two Family Development Sessions (FDS) per month with focus on the psychosocial development of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. Although the FDS will start with the program beneficiaries, it will also be conducted with non-Pantawid Pamilya families.
The Livelihood Cluster reported that cash-for-work (CFW) and emergency livelihood programs have benefited a total of 183,262 families, with 151,641 from Region VIII. The cluster cited the need for more livelihood programs, especially in line with the transfer of the affected families to transitional/permanent shelters.
The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster reported that Eastern Samar has received 129 nominations for zero open defecation.
The Protection Cluster continues to ensure that measures are established to prevent abuses and human trafficking especially among children, women, and indigenous peoples. The cluster also continues to implement the project to restore civil documents of survivors. As of May, 80,272 individuals have submitted requests for processing/endorsement of their documents.
DSWD Field Office-VIII Assistant Director Resty Macuto of the Camp Management Cluster shared the results of DSWD’s profiling of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) using the Disaster Family Access Cards (DFAC). Based on the profiling, the Department recorded 23,386 families with vulnerable individuals like older persons, lactating mothers, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Recognition
During the meeting, Mayor Christopher Sheen Gonzales presented a Plaque of Recognition to Sec. Soliman for her continuous and untiring support to the early recovery and rehabilitation efforts for the municipality.
Sec. Soliman thanked Mayor Gonzales for the recognition. She also congratulated the group for the successful meeting and for having concrete plans for future endeavors.
Attendees were United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Program Country Director Luiza Carvalho, Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) David Carden, Mayor Gonzales and local officials, as well as representatives of the Department of Health (DOH), National Nutrition Council (NNC), DepEd, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Save the Children, among others.
Secretaries Mar Roxas and Butch Abad of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and DBM, respectively, graced the occasion committing their support to the rehabilitation efforts for all ‘Yolanda’-affected areas.
After the meeting, Sec. Soliman and the cluster members visited the transitional shelter site in Brgy. Surok. Aside from using galvanized iron sheets, the shelter units are made unique by using indigenous materials like amakan or sawali to resemble a modern-day but sturdy nipa hut. ###