“The water system of Surigao City and neighboring municipalities San Francisco, Malimono, Mainit and Sison has been severely damaged, and because of this, people are having a very difficult time accessing water for their daily needs. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is formally asking for donations to buy water for Surigao residents. We are accepting cash donations with which we will buy water sourced in Butuan.”

This was the announcement of DSWD Sec. Judy M. Taguiwalo today as she continued to lead the department’s efforts to assist Surigao residents still reeling from the 6.7 magnitude earthquake that hit last Friday.

“We need to continue the provision of relief assistance to the citizens of Surigao, and this includes water. There is no way that people can function well and survive without a steady supply of water for drinking and for other household needs. Filipinos who want to help our kababayans in Surigao can donate cash to the DSWD and we will immediately purchase more drinking water which we will distribute to communities,” said Sec. Taguiwalo.

Cash donations can be deposited to:

DSWD Dollar Saving Account para sa Foreign Donation
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

Peso Current Account
Account Name:      DSWD DONATION
Account Number: 3122-1011-84
Bank Address: Land Bank of the Philippines
Batasan Branch, Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Donors should notify  DSWD-Finance Management Service (FMS)/ Cash Division (CD) of their donation through phone or email. Kindly send the validated deposit slip together with your information (name, nationality and address) to finance@dswd.gov.ph and cash@dswd.gov.ph or fax to 931-8127.

The DSWD Field Office has earlier procured and delivered to the LGU of Surigao City 3,500 6.6L bottled water and 500 4 L bottled water, all costing a total amount of Php 1,554,471. There are also 3,900 FFPs ready for distribution to affected families in Surigao City amounting to Php 1,324,611.

“There is a likelihood that the water system repairs will not be completed soon so we must prepare contingency plans to ensure that people in Surigao still have water to drink,” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo flew yesterday morning to Surigao City to coordinate with DSWD Field Office Caraga and officials of other government agencies tasked to address calamities. She has reported that a total of 60   barangays have been affected, and 1,685 families with 8,425 persons needing assistance. In the meantime,  130 houses have been totally damaged, while 1555 are partially damaged.

As of this writing, there is a meeting in Surigao City involving all local government officials, barangay captains in affected municipalities, as well as DSWD region 13 officials.

“Local social welfare and development staff and officers are working in close coordination with LGU officials to set up a system of distribution for donations for earthquake victims. We would like to emphasize that all the assistance that is being provided by the DSWD and the national government are NOT limited to beneficiaries of the 4Ps program,” she said.

“Again we appeal to our LGUs and barangay officials to help the DSWD deliver what assistance we have for our earthquake-affected kababayans as quickly and efficiently as possible. We should not let anything hinder the delivery of aid to those who need it. Let us work together to ensure that no one who is need of assistance is turned away or denied help.”

In Surigao City alone the Field Office has a total of 900 Family Food Packs prepositioned. There are also 900 FFPs prepositioned in Libjo, PDI; 300 FFPs in Loreto, PDI; 1,058 FFPs in Dapa, Siargao, SDN; 500 FFPs in Tandag City; and 2,700 FFPs in Pantin-ay, Agusan Del Sur. Moreover, there are 17,437 FFPs readily available at FO Caraga warehouse in Tiniwisan, Butuan City.