ILOILO — In the wake of Severe Tropical Storm “Opong,” the Iloilo provincial government underscored child protection as a key pillar of its disaster response, rolling out programs in evacuation centers to safeguard the well-being of displaced children and families.
The Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (OPSWDO) mobilized ahead of the storm’s landfall and sustained its operations during and after the weather disturbance, coordinating closely with local government units to ensure children had safe and supportive spaces.
Municipalities such as San Dionisio, Banate, Balasan, and Ajuy set up Child-Friendly Spaces inside evacuation centers. These areas provided children with structured activities to ease stress and give parents peace of mind over their children’s safety.
In Mina, the local government activated its Camp Management Team to oversee evacuation center operations, a move credited with ensuring smooth delivery of services and strict adherence to safety protocols for vulnerable groups.
The OPSWDO also dispatched a representative to the Provincial Emergency Operations Center (EOC), taking part in discussions on camp coordination, camp management, and the timely distribution of food and non-food items.
To maintain 24/7 responsiveness, the office adopted a skeletal duty system that allowed personnel to be on-call and available for urgent needs.
These measures, carried out with the support of Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (MSWDOs) and community partners, highlighted Iloilo’s emphasis on protecting children and internally displaced persons (IDPs) during emergencies.
Provincial officials said the lessons from “Opong” reinforced the need to strengthen disaster resilience not only through infrastructure and logistics but also through protection of the most vulnerable.
“The welfare of children remains at the heart of our response,” OPSWDO emphasized, vowing to keep child protection integral to future disaster preparedness efforts./PN
