By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas stressed the need for a permanent warehouse for relief goods in response to the recent man-made and natural calamities affecting the city.
“We need a permanent area for our warehouse for food and non-food items for the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO),” Treñas said during a press conference on Monday.
He explained that a permanent facility would ensure a steady supply of goods and allow the city to assist families more efficiently.
“We noticed that when we started using the warehouse for our supplies, we never ran out, and we even had excess because of efficient management. Since it is inside the warehouse, the departments can easily request what they need, and it gets delivered to them,” he said.
The city government previously stored goods in the CSWDO’s old facility in Barangay M.H. Del Pilar, Molo.
However, in 2022, this facility was repurposed to store documents and supplies for various departments, including the City Health Office.
Currently, the CSWDO uses the covered gym in Barangay San Pedro, Molo, as a temporary stock house.
“We are using the gym in San Pedro, Molo, but there are so many items, so we need a better facility,” Treñas added.
The mayor has instructed the CSWDO, city architect, and other relevant agencies to assess idle land near the Iloilo City Action Group volunteer fire brigade in Molo as a potential site for the permanent warehouse.
He also mentioned considering the city lot at the vacated Department of Public Works and Highways-Iloilo City District Engineering Office at Fort San Pedro.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center reported that the enhanced southwest monsoon recently flooded 19 villages, affecting 127 families, or 501 individuals, as of Tuesday.
Heavy rains and strong winds also damaged 98 houses, mostly in coastal areas.
The CSWDO said families whose homes were totally destroyed will receive P10,000, while those with partially damaged houses will get P7,000.
