DSWD-7 needs more volunteers

CEBU, Philippines - More volunteers are needed to repack relief goods at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City, the biggest relief operation center in the Visayas.

“We still need more volunteers because we need to repack 40,000 to 50,000 food packs a day para mas mabilis nating mabigyan yung mga (for a faster distribution to) typhoon victims,” said Joel Villanueva, Technical, Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) secretary, in a pres conference yesterday.

His office is the one in charge of the relief operation at the CICC, where 25,000 to 30,000 food packs are currently being readied each day.

Villanueva said that from Nov. 14 until yesterday morning, 19,462 have already volunteered in six shifts.

Over the same period, volunteers have prepared 220,705 food packs, wherein 175,655 were already dispatched and 45,000 more were due for delivery yesterday in Samar and Leyte provinces.

Villanueva, though, is proud of the response of the Cebuanos to the call for volunteers.

“I am overwhelmed by the support of the Cebuanos in our relief campaign efforts. Amazing yung suporta ninyo . Gusto ko na yatang maging (I think I like to be made a) Cebuano ngayon (now),” said Villanueva.

Also, to help typhoon victims, Tesda would also launch a “Skills Training Emergency Employment Response,” where it would build seven houses in Bantayan Island at P70,000 each.

Villanueva said seven houses would serve as skills training areas for carpentry, electrical wiring, masonry, among others.

Villanueva said those who would undergo the 15-day training would be given a starter kit so they can immediately apply what they learned in constructing houses in their neighborhood.

“Sa ganitong paraan (This way), they can earn money also by constructing the homes sa mga kapitbahay nila (of their neighbors,” he added.

Meanwhile, since there is no electricity yet, Tesda would produce 1,500 of the so-called “Solar Night Light” as a temporary solution and it would  be distributed in areas still suffering from blackouts.

The light costs P550 to P600; if fully-charged, it would light up for eight to 10 hours.

“However, our resources are limited. That is why were are asking big companies that wanted to donate this kind of light to areas na wala pang kuryente (that have no power yet), to contact TESDA, so that we can provide technical people,” said Villanueva.

Tesda-7 can be reach through telephone numbers (032) 4120306 and (032) 4120307. —  (FREEMAN)