Volunteers flock to DSWD to help in relief for Bohol quake

Volunteers flock to DSWD to help in relief for Bohol quake

Volunteers from University of the Southern Philippines, University of Cebu and other civil society groups and individuals strike a pose at the DSWD grounds after sorting and packing relief goods.

DSWD

Over a hundred volunteers flocked to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Field Office VII to help out in sorting, packing, handling and hauling relief goods for the victims of the earthquake.

Heidelin Demecillo, who is currently taking up her studies in the University of the Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), together with her classmates, helped in packing relief goods at the grounds of the social welfare agency. “We don’t have classes today so we thought of volunteering and helping out however we can”, she said.

“We always welcome the help of the volunteers since they augment the disaster operations of the agency especially when most of our staff still also have to continue with their regular functions amidst the disaster”, said Christine Escolano from the Capacity Building Unit of DSWD who was in-charge of the volunteers.

Volunteers were asked to pack DSWD family pack relief goods such as 5 assorted canned goods, 3 kilos of rice, 2-3 packs of noodles and 1 (4-litre) drinking water to be distributed to the earthquake victims in Bohol and Cebu. As of 2PM of October 16, 2013, there are a total of 8,269 affected families in the region.

DSWD is targeting 18,000 family packs to be readily available for distribution the soonest possible time.

Meanwhile, more than 50 marine and nautical engineering students from the University of Cebu (UC) also came to assist the DSWD. UC Executives also offered their bus to be used for the delivery of the goods to Pier 1 where a boat of the Philippine Coast Guard took the goods to Bohol.

For inquiries and updates on the DSWD-7 disaster response efforts, one may contact the DSWD Earthquake Emergency Hotline (032) 232-9507. Netizens and the general public can also visit and get informed through our websites www.dswd.gov.ph or www.fo7.dswd.gov.ph. 

Legarda: Remain vigilant 

Meanwhile, Senator Loren Legarda called on affected communities to remain vigilant for possible aftershocks and other effects of the temblor.

“This is a very unfortunate incident. Initial reports say that at least four people were killed and we hope there are no more fatalities. The strong temblor and its effects may have caused fear among our citizens and it is important that we keep our people aware of what they must do to be safe from the possible after effects,” said Legarda.

“It is also unfortunate that many structures have collapsed, including historical churches that are centuries old. As several critical structures have been damaged, tourism in the region will likely be affected. Amid this disaster, we are reminded that the increasing frequency and magnitude of earthquakes highlight the need for early action,” she added.

The Senator also reiterated her call for preparedness against earthquakes in all parts of the country as a temblor of the same magnitude can happen any time.

“According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the Marikina Valley Fault Line is ripe for movement but no one can predict the exact time when it will move. This makes preparedness for such eventuality even more important,” she said.

Legarda said that the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS) conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in 2004 revealed that a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Metro Manila would cause the destruction of 40% of the residential buildings, damage 35% of all public buildings, kill 34,000 people, injure 114,000 individuals, and the ensuing fires will also result in 18,000 additional fatalities.

“The study also contains priority actions that should have been undertaken 3-6 years after the study was publicized to reduce the impacts of such a strong tremor,” she pointed out.

Among the priority steps that must be undertaken include the promotion of disaster-resilient urban development; ensuring the structural integrity of buildings and critical infrastructure; formulating emergency supply system of water, food and other necessities; and determining open spaces for safe refuge when tremors occur.

“Earthquakes turn into major disasters due to unsafe structures—poorly built structures, buildings in inappropriate places, inadequate design and materials specification, and shortcuts in construction. Inspection during the construction of both public and private infrastructure is important. The additional expense required for making structures safe from earthquakes is worth it especially if it would save thousands of precious lives,” she stressed.

Legarda said that the government must ensure that all structures, especially bridges, school buildings and hospitals, are earthquake-proof through the conduct of a nationwide structural evaluation and by retrofitting these structures to allow them to withstand destructive earthquakes.

US Embassy ready to help

The United States government, through its embassy in Manila, extended their condolences for the devastation and loss of life caused by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the Visayas on October 15.

The US government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), has contacted their counterparts in the Philippine government and will continue to closely monitor the situation. USAID has supported disaster risk reduction activities—by working with organizations such as the U.N. World Food Program—to help the Philippines respond more effectively to disasters like this.

(Simeon Remata III)