DSWD's Gatchalian: Gov't eyeing to build additional repacking centers of relief goods

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Thursday that the government is eyeing to establish additional repacking centers of relief aid to ensure that Filipinos will immediately receive assistance especially during times of calamity.

“There are plans, part of the anticipatory actions to build one (repacking center), starting next year,” Gatchalian said in a press briefing.

“So, we wanna make sure na bukod sa mga regional, provincial, municipal warehouse natin, ‘yung repacking center natin nakakalat rin dapat sa buong bansa. So, that’s something that we're working on right now,” he added.

(So, we wanna make sure that aside from regional, provincial, municipal warehouses, our repacking centers should be scattered across the country.)

At present, the Philippines has two repacking centers: the Pasay hub, which is the National Resource Operations Center, and the Cebu hub, which primarily serves the Visayas and Mindanao.

Gatchalian said a third center would be built in the Caraga Region, particularly in Butuan, to serve Mindanao and other typhoon-prone areas in the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao.

“The site has been given to us by the city government of Butuan right beside the airport,” he said.

Further, Gatchalian said there are also plans to explore the expansion of repacking centers along the eastern seaboard, including the Bicol Region, Quezon, and in Region II.

Gatchalian said President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. had tasked the DSWD to extend immediate financial assistance to victims affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. —RF, GMA Integrated News