The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday said it has intensified its recovery efforts for families affected by Typhoon Uwan, ensuring that communities receive the needed government support to rebuild their homes and restore their livelihoods.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday, 17 November, visited the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union to assess the situation in Uwan-ravaged areas and determine additional forms of assistance needed by affected families. The visit to Region 1 (Ilocos) follows the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that storm-hit communities receive sustained aid to support their full recovery.

“Una pinapunta kami ng mga Pangulo sa mga disaster stricken areas of north: so Pangasinan, La Union and nakita namin na marami pa talaga kailangan gawin. Yung instruction ng Pangulo na immediate response: pagkain, financial assistance, nagsisimula na mula sa hanay ng DSWD at ng iba pang ahensya,” Gatchalian said.

During his visit to La Union barangays affected by the storm surge caused by Uwan, Gatchalian stressed the importance of sustaining support as communities shift from relief to rehabilitation.

He also said the DSWD is working closely with local government units (LGUs) to ensure that all affected families and individuals receive government aid.

“And lagi ding sinasabi ng Pangulo, sa mabilis na panahon dapat yung emergency cash transfer para mabigyan natin yung mga apektadong pamilya na may damage or partially damage or totally damaged na mga tahanan ng kapangyarihan na makapag-pasya kung ano ba yung kailangan nila, gamot ba yan, may pambili sila, importante na may laman ang kanilang mga bulsa,” the DSWD chief pointed out.

The DSWD Field Offices (FOs) have been coordinating with LGUs for the sustained supply of relief items and to facilitate the payout of the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) to support the recovery phase.

In La Union, Secretary Gatchalian and DSWD FO 1 – Ilocos Region led the distribution of family food packs (FFPs) and P5,265 in ECT assistance to 352 families from Barangays San Agustin and Poro.

“These provisions of food packs and emergency cash transfer give immediate support to families as they start repairing their homes and recovering their sources of livelihood,” Gatchalian said.

The DSWD chief was joined by several Cabinet secretaries during Monday’s visit as part of the whole-of-government approach to disaster response. Among them were Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling.

Gatchalian and the other Cabinet members inspected coastal areas severely affected by the storm surge and met with LGU officials to discuss ongoing relief operations and long-term recovery planning, including efforts to move vulnerable families to safer areas.