Volunteers needed; CICC is made repacking hub

Volunteers have started preparing relief packs for eventual distribution to typhoon victims.

More hands are needed.

The Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City  was designated a food repacking hub for the region.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman visited the CICC were a relief operations center has opened.

She said about 360,000 food packs have been pre-positioned in different areas.

Artemia Degamo, focal person for disaster response of DSWD-7, said they are targeting to have at least 100,000 relief packs ready for shipment to Eastern Visayas by the time the weather clears.

Over 30,000 relief packs are stored at the DSWD-7 warehouse, ready for distribution to storm-affected areas in the region.

Volunteers needed

At least 50 DSWD employees were assigned to the CICC repacking center, but  Degamo said they need more hands in order to reach their target.

“Those who want to volunteer can go to CICC or  the DSWD-7 field office for registration,” she told Cebu Daily News.

As of 5 p.m yesterday, they were able to complete 10,000 food packs. A pack contains  six kilos of rice and canned food.

National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council executive director Alexander Pama said that the agency has mobilized the military  to provide the “muscle” in responding to the typhoon.

The military will help ensure  that logistics get to where they are needed and that order is maintained.

Armed forces chief of staff, Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, said  two C-130 planes  filled with  relief goods and responders will take off for  Eastern Samar, as soon as Ruby exits the country.  /with an Inquirer report