Aside from the LGU’s of Region 1, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 1 has been front lining in giving assistance to the residents of the region during disasters.

As proof, over PHP262 million pesos worth of assistance was provided by the agency to those who were affected by the super typhoon Egay followed by typhoon Hanna. These amount covers the given family food packs, sleeping kits, non-food items, and bottled waters.

Most of these were for the residents who had to stay at evacuation centers for their safety, as well as those who were displaced. Together with other agencies, DSWD being the vice chair of the response cluster, they have the responsibility to cater to the needs of the residents in the form of relief goods.

Under the response cluster are three sub clusters covered by DSWD particularly the Food and Non-food items, Camp Coordination and Camp Management, and, Internally Displaced Person Protection.

For the Food and Non-food items, DSWD must provide relief goods especially when the LGU has no more supply. This is based on Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act.

Under the same law, they must give technical assistance in managing where the displaced residents and evacuees must stay for some time.

They must also provide training to the LGUs on how to properly setup the evacuation centers and on how to protect the rights of the evacuees during disasters. On the other hand, the LGUs are responsible of the evacuation centers and not DSWD.

Aside from all the said responsibilities, they also create programs to provide cash assistance to those whose houses were partially or fully damaged such as the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program.

PHP13,500 will be received by those whose houses were totally damaged and PHP9,000 for those partially damaged.

10, 279 beneficiaries from Ilocos Norte and 9,261 beneficiaries from Ilocos Sur benefited from the said program. They were victims of the Super Typhoon Goring. Rhen De Guzman