TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region has opened a new satellite warehouse in Allen, Northern Samar, a move expected to significantly strengthen disaster preparedness and response operations in Eastern Visayas.
The ceremony, held on August 6, 2025, marked a milestone in the agency’s ongoing efforts to decentralize relief storage and speed up the delivery of emergency aid.
Located strategically in Allen—a key gateway between Luzon and the Visayas—the facility will serve as a vital hub for storing and distributing relief goods and essential supplies, enabling faster mobilization during calamities.
Among those present at the ceremony were Atty. Jun Eso, chief administrative officer of the Visayas Disaster Response Cluster; Vice Governor Clarence Dato; Director Clarito Logronio, assistant regional director for administration; Sher Rysiah Saises, chief of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service of the Office of Civil Defense; and other key officials and humanitarian partners.
In his keynote address, Eso underscored the warehouse’s role in enhancing DSWD’s readiness and efficiency during emergencies, particularly in geographically challenging areas of Northern Samar.
With the new facility operational, DSWD regional office will be able to preposition goods closer to communities prone to typhoons, flooding, and other natural disasters—reducing response time and ensuring that affected families receive assistance without delay.
The DSWD emphasized that the project was made possible through the collaborative efforts of local government units, national agencies, and humanitarian partners committed to improving disaster resilience in the region.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
