DSWD adopts Guinobatan town in Albay to expedite relief operations for evacuees

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has adopted the Guinobatan town in Albay as part of the “Adopt a Municipality” strategy to hasten the Mayon disaster operations.

“The Adopt-A-Municipality strategy aims to expedite the provision of the needed augmentation assistance to the municipalities affected by the Mayon volcano eruption,” the DSWD said.

With this strategy, instituted by Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, it is expected that there will be focused monitoring and better management of the evacuation centers.

The department has already assigned an additional 52 employees who will help monitor the evacuation centers in Guinobatan.

“Ang pagtatakda at pagpapatupad ng mga aktibidad sa mga evacuation centers ay mahalaga para mawala ang pagkabagot at pag-iisip ng problema ng mga evacuees. Ang pagsagawa ng iba’t ibang activities ay isang magandang paraan para ma-debrief ang mga tao sa trauma at takot na kanilang naranasan dahil sa pag-alburoto ng Mayon,” DSWD Field Office V Director Arnel Garcia said in a statement.

According to the DSWD, around 3,372 families from seven barangays of Guinobatan have been affected by the eruption of Mayon volcano.

Of the total number, 2,775 families are currently staying in 17 evacuation centers in the town.

Aside from providing relief efforts to the affected residneys, DSWD social workers will help manage the women-friendly spaces (WFS).

“A WFS is a designated tent in an evacuation center where women and children can feel physically and emotionally safe. Activities held here are for psychosocial processing, including drawing and play therapy sessions for children. WFS is also used for breastfeeding,” the department explained.