The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will reinforce its recovery efforts for families affected by Typhoon Opong in Romblon, with Secretary Rex Gatchalian pledging that the national government will “pair their resilience with government support.”
“We will pair their resilience with government support, from the Office of the President, from the DSWD,” Gatchalian said.
In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to enhance the whole-of-government approach in disaster response and recovery, Gatchalian visited Cajidiocan in Sibuyan Island last Sunday and to assess the condition of affected families and ensure the continued delivery of government aid.
As part of his visit, the DSWD chief led the distribution of 115 family food packs (FFPs) and various non-food items (NFIs) to affected residents in the municipality of Cajidiocan.
“I flew into Romblon to meet with local chief executives and map out our recovery plan after the storm. I also checked on affected families who have taken shelter in a school. Victims will receive cash assistance on top of the family food packs they received during the storm,” he said on social media.
Gatchalian lauded the courage and initiative of the residents of Romblon who have started repairing their homes despite the impact of the typhoon. He, however, recognized that many families are still struggling to recover.
The DSWD chief acknowledged how residents are doing their best to rebuild even with limited resources. He said the national government is stepping up to complement the resilience of Filipinos with steady and structured assistance from various agencies.
“Local officials have been whispering to me that the people are just resilient, finding ways to cope. But our assurance is that they should not worry. The national government will provide support to help them recover,” Gatchalian said.
