Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian, alongside Sarangani officials, held a coordination meeting to determine their next move in response to the devastating effects of the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake in the region, the DSWD announced on Sunday.

One of the primary concerns discussed is the quake’s impact on families who lost their earnings and livelihoods, even if their homes were minimally affected.

“Bilang tugon, ilalatag ng DSWD ang pagpapatupad ng emergency cash transfer (ECT) program para makatulong sa mga nasabing pamilya,” the DSWD said in a statement, adding that, to minimize the potential negative effects of the El Niño phenomenon in the next year, they deliberated on improving the agency’s relief reserves in preparation.

Included in the meeting are social welfare Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns Paul Ledesma, DSWD Field Office (FO) 11 Regional Director Rhuelo Aradanas, and DSWD FO-12 Regional Director Loreto Cabaya Jr.

The coordination meeting, which intends to strengthen government response to the calamity, is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure no family does not recover.

On Monday, June 15, 860 family food packs arrived at Barangay Sapu Padidu, Malapatan in Sarangani to further aid the affected residents.

The prompt and orderly response was made possible by coordination among the DSWD, the local government unit (LGU), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Maritime Law Enforcement Team.