DSWD sends food packs for Lawin victims

Some of the electric posts block the road along Maharlika Highway in Tuguegarao, Cagayan after being toppled by strong winds brought by typhoon Lawin (INQUIRER).

Capitol plans to deploy disaster team to help in relief efforts in northern Luzon

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) sent 2,200 family food packs yesterday morning for distribution in areas in Region 2 that bore the brunt of typhoon Lawin before it left the country late Thursday night.

Leah Quintana, regional information officer of the DSWD-7, said they received the request for assistance and augmentation support last Wednesday.

DSWD 7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre said in a press statement that their office has been coordinating with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Airbase for the logistics support.

The food packs were transported in two batches via PAF’s two C-130 planes. The first cargo plane left Cebu at 9 a.m. and the second one at 9:40 a.m.

“We have to hasten the delivery of food packs because people need it badly,” Macapobre said.

“We have assigned two DSWD staff in every C-130 plane to escort the goods,” Macapobre said.

The two military cargo planes were originally set to land in Cauayan, Isabela but for safety reasons, they were redirected to Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

“Naabot na sila sa ilang (They already arrived in their) destination didto sa Tuguegarao,” Quintana said.

“Ang mga escorts mubalik ra dayon sa Cebu pero (The escorts will return immediately to Cebu but) via commercial plane,” she added.

As of yesterday, Quintana said their regional office did not receive further request for additional assistance, but they are ready to send more aid when necessary.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial government is planning to send some members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) to northern Luzon to help in the rescue and relief efforts there.

“Maybe we will send a team there or we will coordinate with Cebu City as I understand that they are sending a team there like the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF),” Gov. Hilario Davide III said.

Capitol will find out first what are the needs of the typhoon victims.

However, PDRRMO chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said that as of the moment, Capitol does not have the capacity to send monetary or food packs to the typhoon victims.
But he said they can send their team to help in the rescue operations.

“But kung dunay request or dunay panginahanglan nganong di man ta pwede katabang (But if there is a request or there is a need there’s no reason not to help),” Tribunalo said.