DSWD to cover more areas hit by killer quake

Friday 10th of February 2012

CEBU CITY, Feb 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office-7 in Central Visayas Relief Operations Team is expected to reach out to more survivors in La Libertad, Tayasan, Jimalalud, Guihulngan, and Ayungon, towns in Negros Oriental badly hit by the earthquake on February 6.

According to DSWD-7 information officer Jaybee Binghay, the relief goods contain cooking and eating utensils such as plastic plates and drinking glasses; packed foods; bottled water; and mats and blankets from the DSWD will be delivered today to the municipalities of La Libertad, Tayasan, Jimalalud, Guihulngan, and Ayungon.

Additional DSWD tents will also be put up in strategic areas especially in the identified evacuation centers. The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday used tents coming from DSWD for its temporary hospital and clinic in Guihulngan town.

If the weather cooperates today, DSWD -7 will deliver food and non-food items in the mountain village of Planas, Guihulngan which has not been reached due to the continuing aftershocks making the area difficult to reach for rescue, retrival, and relief operations.

DSWD-7 regional director Maria Evelyn Macapobre said, “Operation center in Cebu is standing by to accept more donations from the public both in cash and in kind." Their office had identified the following most needed supplies: food, water, mats, mosquito nets, blankets, tents, and flashlights with batteries.

DSWD-7 Help Desk hot-line numbers are 2321192 and 2330261; contact persons are Shalaine Lucero or Marshall Fernandez.

Anytime today, DSWD-7 is expecting an additional truck of relief supplies to augment available resources and expedite relief operations. (Hazel F. Gloria-PIA 7 & DSWD 7)