The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has put a warehouse in San Luis in this province to speed up the government’s response, especially during calamities.
DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo said on Monday the construction of the warehouse is one of the mandates of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure the fast deployment of relief goods to victims.
“Ang unang utos sa akin ni Presidente Marcos ay yung preposition of goods, relief and services sa bawat probinsiya, kung maari nga ay sa bawat bayan ay nakagayak na para hindi na maghihintay pa ng kung ilang araw o ilang lingo ang mga kababayan natin (The instruction of President Marcos is the prepositioning of goods, relief and services in every province and if possible to every town it must be readied so as not to wait our countrymen for days or weeks). The instruction was simple –not to let them wait, give what they want within 24 hours. This is to improve the delivery of its services, programs, and other interventions to the people kasi nanggagaling pa sa rehiyon ang mga ayuda (because the assistance came from the region),” he said in an interview.
Tulfo led the inauguration of the PHP55.55-million DSWD three-story office warehouse with a roof deck, including other facilities in Barangay Bacong, San Luis.
Romar Magat, DSWD Regional Resource and Logistics Management section chief, said the ground floor has a warehouse and provincial extension office while the second floor has office spaces, two rooms, a conference area, and a disaster operation center.
Magat said the third floor has a function hall and five billeting areas (three executive rooms and two dormitory types) while the roof deck has a storage area and water system.
The municipality of San Luis, through Mayor Ariel de Jesus, donated the 800-square-meter lot where the building was built.
Meanwhile, Tulfo cited the efforts of Senator Sonny Angara, Rep. Rommel Rico Angara, and the local government units for the construction of the project.
He assured residents that the warehouse will be having stock of relief goods for the people of Aurora.
“The DSWD is always here. The warehouse will serve as a facility where relief goods and non-food aid will be prepositioned for immediate disaster response action. It will cater to fast-track the DSWD operations in the province,” he added. (PNA)