Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo is now in Saguiran, Lanao del Sur to meet with local executives and look into how the Department can further assist in relief operations for families affected by the ongoing crisis in Marawi City.

Sec. Taguiwalo also visited the evacuation centers in the town and checked on the conditions of the evacuees. She was joined by DSWD-Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao Assistant Secretary Pombaen Kader, DSWD- Field Office XII Regional Director Zorahayda Taha, DSWD-Field Office X Nestor Ramos, and Saguiran Mayor Macmod Muti.

Sec. Taguiwalo explained to the evacuees that the support provided by DSWD is given to them through the local government units (LGUs).

The Secretary said, “Mahalaga ang maayos at malinaw na koordinasyon sa pagitan ng DSWD at ng mga LGU para maihatid ang tulong ng national government sa mga kababayan nating lumikas mula Marawi.  Sa LGU dumadaan ang tulong ng DSWD para sa mga nangagailangan (It is important to have an efficient and clear coordination between DSWD and the LGU so that the services of the national government are provided to those in need.  DSWD assistance is given to the evacuees through the LGU).”

In terms of relief efforts, the Department has already extended over P118 million worth of resource augmentation to families affected by the crisis in the city through the different LGUs.

The assistance consists of 159,000 family food packs, 1,900 family tents, 18,000 hygiene kits, 4,379 dignity kits, 23,000 pieces malong, 13,130 pieces mosquito nets, 15,700 plastic mats, 5,934 blankets, 500 sets of kitchen utensils, and other items like laminated sacks, tarpaulins, sacks, and brassieres.  The Department also provided packs of high energy biscuits, cup noodles, and infant dry cereal.

Presently, some 23,400 family food packs are in transit for DSWD-Field Office X as additional augmentation support for the affected families.

To date, there are still 3,482 families or 16,268 persons staying in 80 evacuation centers  in  Iligan City, Baloi, Pantao Ragat, Pantar in Lanao Del Norte; Cagayan de Oro; and in Bacolod-Kalawi, Balabagan, Calanogas, Ditsaan-Ramain in Lanao Del Sur.

A total of 68,683 families or 329,931 persons are staying  with their relatives and friends across Regions VII, X, XI, XII, CARAGA, ARMM and NIR.  DSWD-Field offices in these regions are continuously validating and updating the data inside and outside evacuation centers for appropriate assistance.

“Mahalaga na pagsikapan natin na matulungan ang lahat ng IDPs. Ang lahat ng natatanggap ng mga nasa evacuation center ay dapat maibigay din sa mga evacuees na ngayon ay nasa kani-kanilang bmga kamag-anak. (It is crucial that we extend help to all IDPs.  Home-based evacuees should also receive the same help given to those in evacuation centers).  Due to the limited manpower of DSWD, we encourage homebased evacuees to coordinate with their barangay, or with nearby city or municipal social welfare and development offices (C/MSWDOs) to seek assistance,” she said.

Report anomalies

Sec. Taguiwalo also encouraged IDPs and their families to report anomalies they see in the conduct of the release of aid. “We want to make the process of releasing assistance in the form of food and non-food items to be as corruption-free as possible. We have been hearing many reports from the ground about how some barangay officials or even LGU units are denying help to IDPs and withholding the release of the DSWD family food packs. We need to determine where these incidents are happening and for what reasons the food packs are being withheld,” she said.

Psychosocial activities

Meanwhile,  DSWD social workers are also currently conducting psychosocial activities in  evacuation centers in light with recent reports that there are manifestations of mental health issues such as depression in some IDPs.

Recently, DSWD-Field Office X collaborated with the Community and Family Services International (CSFI), an international non-government organization, for the conduct of psychosocial and debriefing activities with the children to help ease the trauma they experienced due to the armed conflict. #