DSWD workers continue serving fellow Davaoeños

Typhoon ‘Pablo’ greatly affected the lives of 233,354 families in Davao region last December 4;  their lives changed and properties lost.

As part of the national disaster response, 1,208,083 family food packs have already been provided by DSWD to the disaster victims since December until to date, with the relief provision still continuing. 

However, national government knows that the victims also have other social protection needs. 

Hence, DSWD embarked on the conduct of validating and assessing the needs of the typhoon victims, utilizing the National Household Targeting Systems’ household needs assessment form (HNAF) and the households assessment form (HAF). 

The assessment aims to validate the total number of family victims and include those which are still not listed in the masterlist.

For the whole month of March, workers of the Department composed of Area Coordinators, Area Supervisors and trained Enumerators conducted assessment visits to the victims of Typhoon Pablo. 

Their aim is to validate all the 233,354 family victims listed in the masterlist and assess their other social protection needs, if there are any.

In the process, the Area Coordinators were also able to check on the victims’ situation and respond to some of their questions. 

Further, the Coordinators, as well as the Enumerators were able to note down families which were not included in the masterlist.

Adrian Ticar, Area Coordinator for Kapalong and New Corella, Davao del Norte shared that the conduct of the assessment is fulfilling and difficult at the same time. 

He observed that the Local Government Units, especially at the barangay level, were very cooperative.  However, there were also obstacles to doing the assessment efficiently, such as armed conflict. 

Adrian said, “Sa isang barangay sa Kapalong, huminto muna ang mga enumerators at merong encounter ang military at NPA sa area. Agad naman silang sinabihan ng barangay captain kaya nakaiwas  ang enumerators (In one barangay in Kapalong, enumeration had to be stopped due to the encounter between the military and the NPA. Enumerators were immediately informed though). ”

A mother of three, Jennifer Pendang, Area Coordinator of Monkayo, Compostela Valley, said she hardly saw her family since the assessment started.  Knowing that the assessment is for the benefit of ‘Pablo’ victims, her team worked even on holidays to try and finish the assessment. 

“Hindi madali ma-assess agad ang pamilya sa Monkayo due to weather conditions.  Palaging umuulan sa area at merong ding mga landslide tulad sa Barangay Mount Diwata.   May mga panahon na kailangang magpalipas muna ng ulan ang mga enumerators dahil madulas sa dadaanan (Weather conditions marred our assessment in Monkayo. It always rains in the area and landslides abound like in Mt. Diwata).” 

Maria Rossana Batigno, Area Coordinator for Compostela Valley, mentioned that there were victims who were not in the masterlist but were provided with the Disaster Assistance Family Access Cards (DAFAC). 

Hence, the enumerators used both the masterlist and the DAFAC for the validation of family-victims and for needs assessment.    

Elizabeth T. Degorio, DSWD FO XI Regional Focal Person for the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTSPR), shared that she instructed the Area Coordinators to consider the questions of respondents [victims] as an opportunity to explain the assessment. 

“It should be made clear to them [victims] that the assessment is for the identification of their needs so that adequate responses can be provided by the different government agencies. All those assessed will be encoded in the poverty database of the Department. I reminded area coordinators and enumerators to remain calm and respectful, in the face of criticism and scepticism of those being assessed.”

Despite the obstacles, the DSWD workers continued to diligently conduct the assessment.  In line with the sincere public service to which the Department is known for, the area coordinators and enumerators set to work through the night, including holidays, in the hope of finishing the needs’ assessment of their fellow Davaoeños affected by Typhoon Pablo. (DSWD-XI)