The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office MIMAROPA and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) MIMAROPA have further strengthened their partnership to enhance disaster preparedness and response efforts across the region.Leading the DSWD delegation was Regional Director Benchie B. Gonzales, who paid a courtesy visit to OCD MIMAROPA Regional Director MGEN Arnulfo C. Matanguihan at the latter’s office in Batangas City. Accompanying Regional Director Gonzales were Disaster Response Management Division Officer-in-Charge Lorenzo III V. Mangco, Regional Resource Operations Section Chief Eva Deriada, and Regional Executive Assistant Jon Joseph Medrano.
The meeting aimed to reinforce coordination between the two agencies to ensure the timely, organized, and effective delivery of assistance to families affected by disasters and other emergency situations.
A key highlight of the meeting was the signing of the Relief Prepositioning Agreement (RPA), which allows DSWD to utilize OCD facilities as additional warehouse hubs for the prepositioning of Family Food Packs (FFPs) and other relief supplies. Through this agreement, DSWD will be able to expand its storage capacity and further improve the speed and efficiency of relief distribution to disaster-affected communities.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that assistance reaches affected families as quickly and efficiently as possible. By strengthening our coordination and maximizing available resources, we can better protect vulnerable communities and enhance our disaster response capabilities across MIMAROPA,” Regional Director Gonzales said.
Both agencies underscored the importance of strong partnerships and effective coordination in implementing disaster preparedness and response initiatives. The agreement is expected to enhance the government’s capacity to deliver immediate assistance and provide more efficient services to individuals and families in need during times of crisis.
DSWD MIMAROPA remains committed to working closely with partner agencies to strengthen disaster response mechanisms and ensure the safety, welfare, and resilience of Filipino families affected by emergencies and disasters.
