BUTUAN CITY -- A team from Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) composed of representatives from various national government agencies led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-XII) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office XII personally turned-over food and non-food items to the DSWD Field Office Caraga, represented by OIC-Regional Director Ramel F. Jamen, as additional aid for the affected families of Typhoon Odette in the region.

After seeing the damage of the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, members of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (RIATF-EID) XII decided to come together to contribute for donations intended for the victims in Caraga. The initiative yielded good results as national government agencies, private entities, non-government organizations, pooled in resources to augment the needs of the affected families.

The team sent a 24-vehicle strong convoy to Butuan City, which arrived around 9:00 p.m. on December 28, 2021. They then secured the food/non-food items at the DSWD warehouse and at the DSWD Field Office in Butuan City.

In his message on behalf of the Region XII contingent, Ian Jon S. Clemente, LGOO IV of DILG XII, said during the turn-over ceremony held at the OCD Emergency Operations Center at the Go Hotels, Butuan City, that the initiative is fueled by the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan. The RIATF-XII led the initiative with the objective of showing oneness with the Filipino people, especially those severely affected. 

OIC-RD Jamen also expressed in his acceptance message his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the donation drive of Region XII, saying that he is grateful for the act of kindness from the people of SOCCSKSARGEN. He said that it was safe to say that he represents the people of Caraga in extending appreciation and recognition to the different offices and groups who extended help to the victims.

DSWD FO XII has sent their second batch of augmentation to the region. Some 5,000 family food packs (FFPs), and boxes of water, canned goods, hygiene kits, and other non-food items were part of the delivered goods. FO XII also previously sent 8,000 FFPs distributed to Surigao del Norte and Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI). 

The food/non-food items will now be repacked in preparation for another round of distribution to the affected families in the region, especially the most affected areas in Surigao del Norte and PDI. 

Listed are the Agencies/Organizations/Groups that sent in donations: RD Foundation (General Santos City); National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XII (Koronadal City); Department of Health – Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) SOCCSKSARGEN (Cotabato City); SOCCSKSARGEN General hospital (Surallah, South Cotabato); various personnel of DILG XII (Koronadal City); BULIG Tacurong Volunteer Organization thru Tacurong CDRRMO (Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat); DSWD Field Office XII (Koronadal City); Department of Science and Technology (DOST) XII (Koronadal City) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) XII's relief efforts – Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), Sarangani Chamber, DTI Employees (Koronadal City). (DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)