In line with the partnership and the goal to strengthen disaster preparedness in the country in facing calamity and to make relief, rescue and rebuilt faster, the World Food Programme donates logistics equipment to two government agencies namely Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to ensure response timely and immediately. The logistics equipment donated to WFP consist of mobile storage units, prefabricated office, satellite phones and over 1, 500 pallets amounting to Php 11. 6 Million or (US$260, 000). Present at the turn over of the logistics equipment are WFP Philippines Representative and Country Director Praveen Agrawal, DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman, and OCD Director Honorato De Los Reyes.
Agrawal sees the importance of strengthening the logistics to be prepared in any disaster which according to him we cannot prevent to happen because it is mother nature. He said it is better to be fully equipped and prepared for this kind of disaster and communication is very important to connect from the main office and those who are in the location. This was agreed by Sec. Soliman telling that rainy season is approaching now and we should be prepared on it after what Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) thought us to be fully prepared and making it bigger than before.
Sec. Soliman is very thankful WFP for supporting them from the start in reaching out especially to the efforts in Yolanda rescue, relief and rebuild from Tacloban and to the larger area of Samar and Leyte.
Up to date the Logistic Cluster of WFP has already transported more than 26, 000 metric tons of relief items for humanitarian community including international agencies and non governmental organizations as well as the government. Together with DSWD, WFP has transported and distributed more than 39, 000 metric tons of food assistance to people on need along with the installation of internet connectivity to provide over 6, 000 users through Emergency Telecommunications Cluster of WFP.
WFP in partnership with DSWD is now moving to recovery and livelihood assistance which they are now working on food for work and cash for work aside from the food assistance and cash transfer where more than 3 million beneficiaries.
