DSWD to typhoon relief donors: Coordinate with us, OCD first so donations won’t be wasted

Filipina domestic workers in Central on Nov. 15 packed boxes of donations for families affected by the recent typhoons in the Philippines.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Tuesday reminded donors overseas to coordinate with Philippine authorities before sending out relief items to typhoon victims in order to make sure the aid will not go to waste.

“We encourage them naman po to get in touch or coordinate with the DSWD or the Office of Civil Defense. This is to ensure that their donations are properly managed, and naga-guide din sila kung ano ‘yung priority needs doon sa mga areas,” DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao told Hong Kong News.

Dumlao said the local government units also have their own resources and the DSWD just provides additional resources in financial and technical assistance.

This comes as reports of donations being trashed or thrown away were posted on social media. Hong Kong News is independently verifying the reports.

Hong Kong domestic helpers have amassed boxes of donations for affected communities and families following the onslaught of subsequent typhoons in the Philippines–the most recent one being Vamco (Philippine name: Ulysses)

Resources had run scarce after Ulysses submerged communities and inundated homes in Cagayan and Isabela provinces.

Among those requested by individuals in the disaster-stricken areas are clothes, meals and potable water.

The agency, along with local government units, conducts damage assessments to assess what resources affected areas need. 

“As of now, we have yet to receive reports from other areas, although in some we started providing the needed assistance,” Dumlao said.

Through the assessment, they can determine the immediate needs that must be extended to displaced families.

“We provide family food packs, hygiene kits, sanitary kits as augmentation support  to the Local Government Units para ma-address po natin ‘yung mga kailangan ng kanilang nasasakupan. Sometimes, included rin ‘yung mga new clothes  for the disaster affected families and those in evacuation centers,” she Dumlao.

Dumlao also expressed how grateful she was to all those who have chipped in and is flabbergasted by all the collective effort being done by Filipinos.

“This is a manifestation that the spirit of the bayanihan is alive amongst us,” she said.