THE Department of Social Welfare and Development is currently addressing the needs of children and youth affected by five recent tropical cyclones.

DSWD Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the initiative aligns with the department’s role as the lead agency for Camp Coordination and Camp Management for Internally Displaced Persons during crises and disasters.

“Due to the series of storms, some of our kababayans have gone in and out of evacuation centers. And of course, among these affected families and individuals, kasama na rin diyan ang mga bata who require our extra attention and expanded interventions,” she said.

Republic Act 10821, or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, provides guidelines for childcare management, prioritizing lactating mothers and their children in evacuation centers.

Dumlao added that psychosocial services for adults and play therapy for children are being provided to help alleviate stress and trauma caused by disasters.

“This is, of course, facilitated by our focal personnel deployed in the field, and in coordination with concerned local government units. Just like in a report we recently gathered from the Ilocos Region, our field office personnel worked with the La Union Incident Management Group to provide psychosocial support not just to our children, but also women and older people,” she said.

The DSWD also coordinates with local responders to establish child- and women-friendly spaces in evacuation centers.