Protecting children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers during disasters is a core mandate of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in its role as the Vice-Chair for Response and Early Recovery, and lead agency for Camp Coordination and Camp Management and Internally Displaced Persons Protection (CCCM-IDPP) and Food and Non-Food Items. The DSWD is strongly committed to upholding safety, dignity, and swift recovery of these vulnerable groups, ensuring they receive timely support and appropriate support in times of crisis.
Fulfilling this mandate begins with empowering those on the frontlines. To effectively equip local government units (LGUs) who serve as first responders during disasters, it is essential to first strengthen the capacity of DSWD staff in understanding and embracing their critical roles in emergency situations. In line with this, the DSWD Field Office (FO) 1 – Ilocos Region Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) conducted an orientation on the Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children (CEPC) for the CCCM-IDPP Strike Teams of the Incident Management Team across the region.
Among the participants were Provincial Operations Officers (POOs), Provincial/City/Municipal Links (P/C/MLs), and Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Team Leaders who are key DSWD field personnel directly involved in disaster response. The orientation facilitated by the Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) provided technical guidance on CEPC implementation in line with international humanitarian standards delivering child-centered emergency response. Special emphasis was placed on protecting vulnerable groups, equipping participants with key CEPC protocols and standards, and encouraging them to advocate for the program’s integration at the LGU level.
“It is important to understand why you are here in this training and what your role will be during disaster operations. Know that you are among the best because the Department pushes you to your limits for a reason. Wherever you are assigned, you bring value. We’ve all gained special skills from our experiences, and those skills matter wherever we are,” shared Regional Director (RD) Marie Angela S. Gopalan.
The capacity building initiative ensures CEPC trained personnel can provide timely technical assistance to LGUs while upholding the rights and welfare of children and other vulnerable groups across all phases of emergency management. As RD Gopalan emphasized, “We are all responders. Once a responder, always a responder.”
As a tangible outcome of the training, each provincial team crafted action plans detailing their next steps for implementing CEPC in their respective areas. This initiative highlights the FO’s strong commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of children and other vulnerable populations during disasters and emergencies. (by: Nicole Kasandra A. Lipawen, Information Officer II)
