#ReliefPH: DSWD ready to accept donations for Lawin survivors

MANILA, Philippines – Responding to the needs of the families affected by Typhoon Lawin, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced on Wednesday, October 26, that the agency is ready to accept donations. The announcement came after DSWD conducted its initial ground assessment in regions struck by the typhoon. 

“Our doors remain open to those who offered aid assistance, as long as they do not come with conditions and are locally available already. We also appeal to the public to have patience with us as we conduct the ongoing validation of areas affected and assessment of their needs because we want to ensure that all donations and relief items will not overlap and will be rationally distributed to rightful beneficiaries,” said DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo. (READ: #ReliefPH: Help victims of Typhoon Lawin) 

For organizations and individuals who wish to help, the list of goods or items that can be donated are the following:

• Canned process goods (not expiring within six (6) months)
• Rice
• New clothing and underwear
• Shelter materials
• Jerry cans
• Cooking and Kitchen kits
• Water
• Hygiene kits
• Sleeping kits (such as mats, blankets, mosquito nets, etc.)
• Tents/tarpaulins/laminated sacks

Hotline numbers of NROC are: (02)852-8081 / (02)851-2681 / (02)511-1259.

Meanwhile, the Department also accepts cash donations through:

• PESO SAVINGS ACCOUNT

Account Name : DSWD DONATION

Account Number : 3122-1011-84

Bank Address : Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan Branch, Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Foreign donors may also send monetary assistance through:

• DOLLAR SAVINGS ACCOUNT

Account Name : DSWD FOREIGN DONATION

Account Number : 3124-0055-81

Swift Code : TLBPPHMMXXX

Bank Address : Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan Branch, Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Donors are advised to directly deposit to the DSWD donation account and notify the DSWD Finance Management Service (FMS) or Cash Division (CD) by sending the validated deposit slip together with the donor’s information to fiance@dswd.gov.ph and cash@dswd.gov.ph or fax to 931-8127.

Taguiwalo also gave assurances that the donations will be appropriately handled by the agency.

“All donations will be inventoried, monitored, reported and acknowledged. We will also provide donors with reports regarding the receipt and utilization of the items. For transparency, these will also be posted on our website www.dswd.gov.ph,” Taguiwalo added. 

Advanced preparation and coordination

Taguiwalo also added that the DSWD and other agencies have been prepared in their response to the the emergency situation created by Typhoon Lawin. 

“We are improving   as we go and as we see areas of work that are weak and need to be strengthened.  Our conclusion is basic – we at the DSWD must go down to the field, speak to the people if the steps we are proposing are also what they need. We have to do this to ensure the validity of our data on which we base our plans,” she said.

To date, there are 302,764 families or 1,352,002 persons affected in 3,097 barangays in Regions CAR, I, II, III, and V.

There are a total of 97,126 damaged houses in Regions CAR, I, II, and III; of which, 84,691 are partially damaged and 12,435 are totally damaged.

Responding to this emergency situation, government agencies, local government units, and private groups donated a total of P34,636,253 (P714540) worth of relief assistance to the affected families. Of the said amount, the DSWD provided P27,844,541 ($574,428); respective LGUs provided a total of P6,786,712 ($140,008); while some NGOs provided a total of P5,000 ($103.15).

The Central Office (CO), affected Field Offices (FOs), and NROC also have a total stockpile and standby funds amounting to P840,551,812.92 ($17,340,440). – Rappler.com 

$1 = ₱48.47