DSWD vows continued aid for families amid Parola compound fire

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Sunday assured thousands of families displaced by a massive fire at the Parola Compound in Binondo, Manila of immediate, sustained government support.

Gatchalian gave the commitment as he oversaw the distribution of ready-to-eat (RTEF) boxes at the Delpan evacuation center.

“Gaya ng utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., mahalaga na mabigyan agad ng tulong ang mga apektado ng sakuna. Pero mahalaga rin na malaman ang kanilang kalagayan at ano pa ang mga kailangan kaya pumunta ngayong araw si Secretary Gatchalian sa Delpan Evacuation Center,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said on Sunday.

(As ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., it is important to extend immediate help to those affected by the tragedy. But it is also important to be made aware of their condition and what else they need. This is why Secretary Gatchalian visited the Delpan Evacuation Center today.)

Dumlao – also the DSWD spokesperson – said Gatchalian checked on the condition of the displaced families at the evacuation center.

He also directed the DSWD’s Field Office National Capital Region (NCR) to ensure the immediate delivery of necessary assistance.

“We will ensure that affected families have access to food and other essential needs while recovering from the disaster,” Dumlao said.

Gatchalian also instructed FO-NCR Regional Director Michael Lorico to send kitchen kits, sleeping kits, and other non-food items to the internally-displaced families (IDPs) seeking shelter at the Delpan evacuation center.

“Ngayong Linggo nang umaga po ay dumating na rin ang 2,000 kitchen kits at 2,000 sleeping kits sa Delpan. Secretary Gatchalian wants to make sure that affected families have food and essential items they can use while inside the evacuation center at mayroon din silang matutulugan at maayos na makakainan,” Dumlao said.

(On Sunday morning, 2,000 kitchen kits and 2,000 sleepings arrived at Delpan. Secretary Gatchalian wants to make sure that affected families have food and essential items they can use while inside the evacuation center and they have decent places for sleeping and eating.)

Dumlao said the DSWD is ready to provide additional food and non-food items, in coordination with the Manila local government unit (LGU), depending on the needs of the displaced families.

The massive fire swept through the Parola Compound on Saturday afternoon, displacing at least 2,500 families.

There are 2,134 families or 7,123 individuals affected by the fire who are currently staying at the Delpan evacuation center. — JMA, GMA News