OCD, PDRF urge private sector partners to scale up non-food relief efforts

Instead of the usual ayuda food packs, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) called for their sectoral partners to ramp up non-food relief efforts in flood-affected areas during a forum held on July 24.

The appeal comes after the impact of tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, intensified by the southwest monsoon, which affected 6.17 million people and left 32 dead, based on data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of July 27.

OCD Logistics Division Officer-in-Charge Jelo Mangaoang said the agency has received requests for non-food items such as hygiene kits, go bags, ponchos, and rain gear.

“Most of the requirements that we are receiving are mostly non-food items in nature. There are some municipalities requesting for rice, but fortunately, we still have stocks for that,” Mangaoang explained. 

Still, he assured that the OCD will coordinate with the National Food Authority to supply rice to the requesting areas.

“You may also consider [non-food items] as part of your planning if you want to provide assistance to those localities that you pay special attention to,” Mangaoang added.

A total of 188 areas nationwide have declared a state of calamity, according to NDRRMC data.

Among areas needing the most assistance are areas in Region I (Ilocos) and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), said the OCD and the PDRF in the forum.

On July 26, the OCD reported via Facebook that it had dispatched trucks carrying 2,520 kitchen sets and 1,400 shelter repair kits for households in San Fernando City, La Union, in Ilocos.

Meanwhile, the PDRF explained that flood-related events differ from other disasters such as volcanic eruptions, because affected residents usually return home quickly to begin repairs.

PDRF Operations Center Director Arnel Capili said that because evacuees do not remain long in evacuation centers, the foundation has “modified” its kits and non-food assistance accordingly.

“We’re modifying our hygiene kits to include household cleaning equipment and materials, because every time, there will be mud and debris inside the houses,” Capili said.

The PDRF thanked partners for providing food packs, bottled water, electric generators, free network services, and fuel assistance, but noted the continued need for transport trucks, logistics support, family food packs, and water treatment systems.

Private sector partners have also pledged around Php 2 million in funding, according to Capili.

As of July 27, the NDRRMC reported that Php 470.77 million had been provided to assist affected families, with an additional Php 1 million allocated to local governments and regional agencies.