The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) quick response teams (QRT) from various offices nationwide will be on standby for any incident that may require their immediate assistance during the observance of Holy Week.
RH 5 Val Gonzales reported on Wednesday, April 16, that this was directed by the agency’s Secretary Rex Gatchalian, ordering that QRTs remain on standby the entire Holy Week, should any event necessitate the department’s intervention.
Moreover, the DSWD assured that all the disaster management and response teams from its Central Office (CO) and 16 Field Offices (FOs) will be the ones on standby.
The department also mentioned that over P92 million in standby funds and more than 2.7 million family food packs (FFPs) in agency warehouses nationwide are readied for the weeklong observance.
“We want nothing but a peaceful observance of the Holy Week. But of course, disasters, whether natural or human-induced, may happen anytime. With this, we assure the public that our resources can be tapped and delivered immediately when the need arises,” DSWD Disaster Management Group (DRMG) Assistant Secretary and DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao said in a press release.
She also urged the public to prioritize their safety during the observance of the Holy Week, specifically those who will brave the crowds to go home to their respective hometowns and provinces.
“We are urging the public to stay safe, remain vigilant, and heighten awareness to avoid untoward incidents or emergencies,” she said.
The DSWD is closely coordinating with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and other concerned agencies to monitor the weather systems that may affect the country in the next few days.
