ILOILO City-The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is calling on volunteers to help in the packing of relief goods amounting to P887 million for its third and last tranche of distribution.

“Since it’s summer season and many students are on a vacation, we are calling on them to help us in the packing of goods for faster distribution to Local Government Units (LGUs),” said Judith Tanate, head of Crisis Intevention Unit and Disaster Risk Reduction Management Unit of DSWD.

Tanate said this is the final round of relief distribution as the region begins in early recovery and rehabilitation stage. Interested volunteers could come and join other volunteers at Juan Tong Building in Rizal, Lapuz, Lapaz, Iloilo.

“We are doing this to respond to typhoon Yolanda survivors. While there are those who have already recovered, there are still families who live with their relatives and neighbors. There are also families living in makeshift houses. With the relief goods, we hope that we are making life a bit better for them.”

The agency has already distributed packed goods amounting to P155 million for the Provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Negros Occidental and Guimaras.

P887M-WORTH OF GOODS

According to Tanate, a total of 515,071 families will be receiving the last tranche of relief distribution for Yolanda surviors.

Each pack, amounting to P1,250, will contain 25 kilos of rice, 20 canned goods, 20 packs of noodles and 20 sachets of 3-in-1 coffee.

If broken down, Aklan will have 91,258 families who will receive the goods; Antique, 45,953 families; Iloilo, 179, 396 families; and Capiz, 137,314 families.

RELEASE THROUGH LGUs

Tanate also reiterated that the releasing of goods is through the LGUs.

“The regional office will do the packing of goods, in partnership with other National Government Agencies, volunteer organizations and students, and then we release to the LGUs,” said Tanate.

According to her, they are actually persuading the LGUs to bring with them their own volunteers as well as trucks to hasten the packing and hauling of goods.

“Currently, we are awaiting for the bulk delivery of the supplies so we could speedily distribute to the LGUs. We already have so much supply that needs packing by now thus the call for volunteers. When supplies from Manila will be delivered, we will be needing a lot more volunteers,” she said./dswd6/May Rago-Castillo