15 mobile kitchens for disaster ops to be sent to DSWD field offices   

Fifteen mobile kitchens for disaster operations are set to be distributed to different field offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

In a statement on Thursday, Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) and concurrent officer-in-charge (OIC) of the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) Leo Quintilla highlighted that the “new normal” brought forth challenges, especially in terms of facing various kinds of calamities.

With this, DSWD came up with another plan to increase its capacity to respond to any disaster situation.

“The mobile kitchens are equipped to serve hot meals to at least 500 individuals per meal.  It will primarily address hunger issues of internally displaced families during disasters, including those staying outside and inside evacuation centers, from the pre-emptive evacuation to the post-disaster phase,” Quintilla said. 

“For example sa Mt. Kanlaon, hindi pwedeng sa next one month, food packs lang tayo, there will be food pack fatigue, so we also need to serve hot meals. Alternate yan na hot meals then food packs. Kailangan din ng vegetables, kailangan din balanse tayo kahit sa evacuation center.  Ito ngayon ang role na gagampanan ng mobile kitchens,” he added. 

Furthermore, the mobile kitchen will also serve those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged (GIDA) areas, especially 4th—and 5th-class municipalities during disasters and those stranded in major ports, airports, and other areas. 

A regional Mobile Kitchen Deployment Team will be needed under the mobile command center and the team will be composed of a safety officer, cook, kitchen worker, supply custodian, and a driver. 

“Disaster response, second is based from directives of the Secretary kung kailangan ng mga programa ng DSWD, and of course sa request din ng ating partners, like the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), para sa (disaster) response,” Quintilla noted.

However, the Field Office-National Capital Region (NCR) is not included in the recipients since the region already has a mobile kitchen previously donated by the World Food Programme (WFP).

This project is part of the on-going innovations in line with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s mandate to ensure that the needs of affected families are addressed with adequate, sustained, and compassionate disaster response measures.

Presently, the Department is finalizing operational procedures to include staff training, identification of meal plans, and supply measures to ensure that once transferred to the regional offices, the mobile kitchens can be immediately deployed as needed. — BM, GMA Integrated News