Residents stranded inside Marawi City receives the family food packs augmented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to DSWD-Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The relief assistance was distributed on Wednesday by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of Lanao Del Sur with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Photos by Maharlanny Macalangcom Alonto.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo reported today that the relief assistance augmented by the Department to DSWD Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has already reached residents who were left inside Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur where the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is conducting an armed operation to suppress the members of the Maute group.
“The Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO) of Lanao Del Sur reported that the residents were very happy to see them delivering the family food packs (FFPs) yesterday. They conducted relief distribution until the evening,” she said.
The DSWD Central Office through its Field Offices (FO) in Regions X and XII has been providing augmentation support to DSWD ARMM. The Department has earlier sent 10,000 FFPs and non-food items in the form of plastic mats, blankets, and dignity kits to the operations center in Malabang, Lanao Del Sur for distribution to the affected families.
The DSWD ARMM leads the provision of assistance to residents inside Marawi City and those who evacuated to other municipalities in Lanao Del Sur, while the DSWD CO through its FOs X and XII assists those who fled to Regions X and XII.
According to the 6AM report of the DSWD-Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DReAMB), the ongoing armed conflict has affected a total of 19,978 families or 100,289 individuals. Of this number, 2,955 families or 13,988 persons are still taking refuge in 24 identified evacuation centers (ECs), while 17,023 families or 86,301 persons are staying with their relatives and friends in Lanao Del Norte, Lanao Del Sur, and Cotabato.
“The DSWD continues to assist the affected families both in the evacuation centers and those staying outside ECs. Yesterday, our staff from Field Office XII distributed food packs, hygiene kits, and malong to Marawi residents who fled to their relatives and friends in Koronadal City, South Cotabato,” Sec. Taguiwalo said.
“We maintain our close coordination with the LGUs to reach and extend aid to all affected families. We will assist them until they can return to their respective homes and bounce back to their normal lives,” she said. ###
