The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) have joined forces to prepare for potential disasters in the region.
Regional Director Grace Subong of DSWD Field Office VIII and President Prose Ivy Yepes of SLSU signed a memorandum of agreement for prepositioning food and non-food items on the university campus.
This partnership aims to ensure that relief goods can be quickly accessed and distributed to affected families in the event of a disaster, such as Super Typhoon "Odette," which struck the region exactly one year ago.
DSWD has initially prepositioned 150 family food packs (FFPs) on the SLSU campus, with an additional 850 FFPs to be transported in the coming days. Yepes highlighted the importance of this collaboration, particularly in terms of supporting vulnerable families during times of crisis.
Key officials from SLSU were also present at the signing of the memorandum of agreement, including Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Annabelle Hufala, Vice President for Research, Innovation and Extension Services Dr. Francis Ann Sy, and Directors Mark Donald Oja and Gordon Opina. Representing DSWD at the event were Chief of the Disaster Response Management Division Ms. Lucia Balantad and Mr. Rey Peñaranda of the Regional Resource Operations Center.
The partnership between DSWD and SLSU demonstrates a commitment to preparedness and a focus on providing swift relief to those in need during times of disaster.