DAVAO CITY – The Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry (Agila) Division (10ID) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Region 11 (DSWD-11) signed on May 2 a memorandum of understanding to jointly provide immediate support to disaster-affected areas in the Davao region.
The ceremonial signing was held at the Camp General Manuel T. Yan Sr. in Mawab, Davao De Oro.
“The memorandum aims to fast-track the disaster response efforts of the DSWD in collaboration with the Agila Division in prepositioning food and non-food relief items at a storage facility that will be designated as relief storage provided by 10ID inside its headquarters in Mawab, Davao De Oro,” said Maj. Gen. Jose Eriel Niembra, the 10ID commander, in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Niembra said “The 10ID is not only focused on war fighting but also (on) other aspects of nation-building including disaster response.”
“More than prepositioning relief goods, the agreement will also bolster good relations between DSWD and the Philippine Army as well as the LGUs (local government units),” said lawyer Vanessa Goc-ong, the DSWD 11 regional director.
Goc-ong said she is “very confident that this partnership will provide better services to the affected communities and contribute to the overall goal of building more resilient and disaster-prepared communities.” she said. (PNA)
Niembra said a 230 square-meter facility of the 10ID will also serve as an augmentation to the LGU’s emergency response preparedness measures.
