Davao plans to get P8-M mobile relief equipment

STOPS AND STARTS. The government’s distribution of food packs to flood victims in Davao City’s 15 villages has been stopped Thursday for the latter to go back to their normal lives, says Maria Luisa Bermudo (left) of the Social Service and Development Office during the January 24 I-Speak. As of January 23 5PM, she added, the city has served 14,222 families or 40,968 dependents. Her office will start conducting psycho-social interventions in the affected communities. Meanwhile, Chief of Public Safety and Command Center Magno Adalin (right) said they will set up Telemetric Monitoring System at the Davao River for a faster detection of water level to alert and prepare the people from impending floods. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)

Maria Luisa Bermudo, chief of Davao City Social Welfare and Development Office (davaotoday.com file photo)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The city government is mulling to acquire an equipment that provides immediate relief to affected residents, including cooking equipment.

“The primary goal is the immediate provision of hot meals, especially to children in the evacuation centers within the first 24 hours,” said Ma. Luisa Bermudo, chief of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

The City Information Office said the equipment cost around P8 million and its acquisition is under the project Mobile Quick Relief Hot Meal/Soup.

This project would feature cooking equipment and non-food supplies that include clothing, tents, tables to be used during massive evacuations.

The equipment will be handled by social workers in conducting initial needs assessment and trauma session for survivors of calamity.

The plan came following the evacuation of more than 300 residents in the city due to continuous rains.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), meanwhile, released on Monday, Jan. 2 the list of tropical cyclone names for this year.

The names are: Auring, Bising, Crising, Dante, Emong, Fabian, Gorio, Huaning, Isang, Jolina, Kiko, Lannie, Maring, Nando, Odette, Paolo, Quedan, Ramil, Salome, Tino, Urduja, Vinta, Wilma, Yasmin and Zoraida. (davaotoday.com)