MALATE, Manila – The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field (DSWD) Office MiMaRoPa conducted  a one-day Second Semester Social Welfare and Development (SWD) Forum yesterday at the regional office.

Assistant Regional Director Joel S. Mijares recalled his experiences on super typhoon Yolanda last year on his welcome message.  He cited that the delivery of relief goods to affected families in the region was one of the main problems experienced by the office. The geophysical composition of MiMaRoPa where municipalities are divided by water oceans posed a challenge. However, he commended some private sectors in their participation and coordination in the delivery of food packs to the heavily hit islands of Northern Palawan.

Social Welfare Officer Esther L. Geraldoy of DSWD Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Operation Office discussed Evacuation Center or Camp Coordination and Management. This highlighted the synchronization of roles and responsibilities of the Department in the over-all humanitarian responses in coordination with the local government units to identify responsive, strategic, functional and safe evacuation centers during disaster.

In evacuation centers, children, senior citizens, persons with disability and women are vulnerable and prone to risks. “We have to ensure that our disaster-responsive plan includes establishment of a friendly and gender-sensitive camp,” said Geraldoy.

Moreover, The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) discussed topic on ‘Storm Surge Assessment and Hazard Mapping in the Philippines’. According to Weather Specialist Nestor Nimes, around 20 typhoons enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility every year.

MiMaRoPa as an island region is at high risk of storm surges during typhoons. Storm surge or locally called ‘daluyong’ is the sudden increase of sea water associated with typhoon due to strong winds. In Coron Palawan, the island-barangay of Malawig was wiped by the storm surge in the onset of typhoon Yolanda last year.

PAGASA introduced ‘super typhoon’ as another classification of tropical cyclone, adding to the list of four including the tropical depression, tropical storm and typhoon.

“Disaster can be prevented if appropriate measures are adopted. These can be achieved by proper understanding and preparedness about the hazards and threats posed by them,” Nimes concluded.

The said forum is part of the intensification of the Department’s effort to increase awareness and strengthen the capacity of local partners along disaster preparedness and responses.  It was participated by 17 local social welfare and development officers coming from the provinces of MiMaRoPa.###