DSWD Sec. Taguiwalo interacts with volunteers helping manage the Geronimo Covered Court evacuation center for Habagat evacuees in Brgy. Silangan, Quezon City

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo proceeded this afternoon to Barangay Silangan in Quezon City to visit and personally check on the condition of Habagat evacuees at the Geronimo Covered Court evacuation center.

Sec. Taguiwalo was pleased to see that the evacuation center was properly managed by the Quezon City Social Welfare and Development Office together with volunteers from the bagong Silangan Disaster Rescue Team, a non-government organization based in the community, as well as members of the Parent-Teachers Association of Barangay Silangan Elementary School.

In a brief engagement with the volunteers, headed by Lalaine Belara, Sec. Taguiwalo lauded the partnership of the groups managing the evacuation center for ensuring that the food, security, and other needs of the evacuees are being addressed.

The evacuation center is currently serving 290 families or 1,442 individuals who came from  15 areas around Barangay Silangan. The families evacuated to the covered court yesterday evening after their areas were declared danger zones with the increasing water level of the nearby river.

All in all there are 39 evacuation centers in Metro Manila, 17 of which are in Quezon City with 9 in Barangay Silangan.

“Ipagpatuloy natin ang pagtutulungan para sa ating mga kababayang nasalanta ng Habagat. Kayong mga volunteers ang tunay na kaagapay ng ating gobyerno sa pagbibigay ng tunay na malasakit sa mga bikitma ng kalamidad (Let us continue our partnership to help out countrymen who have been affected by the Habagat. You, vounteers, are our valuable partners in providing genuine compassion for victims of disaster),” Sec. Taguiwalo said.

Sec. Taguiwalo assured the volunteers that the DSWD is ready to provide resource and even human resource augmentation assistance when necessary. ###