DAVAO CITY(June 9) — As communities across Southern Mindanao reeled from the impact of Monday’s powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Davao Region (DSWD-11) moved swiftly to position relief resources and emergency response teams for affected families.
The agency announced that more than 182,600 family food packs have been prepositioned across the Davao Region, alongside a PHP3-million standby fund, to ensure immediate assistance can be delivered to local government units affected by the disaster.
The preparations form part of the government’s effort to respond quickly to the needs of communities as damage assessments and rescue operations continue in areas shaken by one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Mindanao in recent years.
In addition to the family food packs, DSWD-11 has stockpiled 26,938 ready-to-eat food packs and 18,675 non-food relief items that can be deployed to evacuation centers and communities requiring urgent assistance.
The agency strategically distributed food stocks throughout the region to facilitate rapid delivery. Davao de Oro holds the largest allocation with 26,291 family food packs, followed by Davao Oriental with 15,949 packs, Davao Occidental with 13,614, Davao del Norte with 7,074, and Davao del Sur with 6,208.
“The agency is actively coordinating with local government units and partner agencies to monitor the ongoing situation on the ground,” DSWD-11 said in a statement.
Immediately after the earthquake, DSWD officials joined emergency meetings of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to activate disaster response protocols and coordinate relief operations.
Regional Director Rhuelo Aradanas ordered the establishment of a command center that will operate around the clock to monitor developments, consolidate field reports, and facilitate communication with local governments and disaster management agencies.
Frontline personnel from the agency’s Provincial Operations Offices and Disaster Response Management Division have also been deployed to conduct rapid assessments in affected communities and validate reports from local authorities.
The information gathered by field teams will help determine the extent of humanitarian needs and guide the deployment of food, emergency supplies, and other forms of assistance.
Aradanas said the department remains in close coordination with member agencies of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to ensure that aid reaches communities as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“The agency continues to monitor the situation closely and coordinate with RDRRMC member agencies to ensure the seamless delivery of services and aid to those in need,” he said.
With aftershocks continuing to be felt in parts of Mindanao, DSWD-11 has maintained a heightened state of readiness, keeping emergency personnel, auxiliary services, and relief resources on standby for immediate deployment should conditions worsen or additional communities require assistance.
For thousands of families facing uncertainty after the earthquake, the prepositioning of relief supplies offers an early assurance that food, emergency assistance, and government support can be mobilized quickly as recovery efforts begin.
