Wednesday, April 1, 2015

DSWD sends more aidfor armed conflict evacuees



To securely address the needs of displaced families brought about by the ongoing armed conflict in Mindanao, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to send additional food and non-food relief supplies in the affected areas.

The DSWD provided P24.76 million worth of assistance in the 13 towns of Maguindanao; in Pikit and Matalam, North Cotabato; and in Bitaugan, Surigao del Sur where a clash between the military and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) occurred on February 27.

The DSWD has also now included Brgy. Estado, Matalam, North Cotabato and Monkayo, Compostela Valley as among the areas it continues to assist after armed conflicts ensued there on March 20 and March 24, respectively.

The DSWD released the relief supplies either through the DSWD-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) or through concerned local government units (LGUs), as well as through the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH)-Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

A total of 27,178 families or 132,870 persons have been affected by the incident.

Of this number, 20,078 families or 100,390 persons are inside 78 evacuation centers. The evacuation centers in Pikit have already closed, but 1,629 families or 8,145 persons who opted to stay with their relatives continue to receive relief assistance.

The Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Teams in the affected towns remain in close coordination with the LGUs for further assessment of the needs of the evacuees. While at the evacuation centers, evacuees are given psycho-social counseling and children-evacuees undergo play therapy sessions to lessen their trauma.

Meanwhile, the Department is continuously providing aid to the families of the 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) commandos who were slain in the Mamasapano, Maguindanao clash on January 25.

To date, a total of P1,226,440 worth of food packs, burial assistance, educational assistance, and medical assistance have been provided to the families through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

Concerned DSWD-Field Offices are currently expediting the assessment and processing of the livelihood and employment assistance to the qualified family members of the Fallen 44. DSWD offers them livelihood support suited to their skills.

The DSWD also received the initial batch of nine proposals for livelihood assistance submitted by the families of the SAF 44 in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); the Department is set to submit these to the Presidential Management Staff of the Office of the President.
DSWD also provided P205,000 worth of burial and medical assistance to the civilians affected during the Mamasapano clash.
On the other hand, DSWD continues to receive donations as an aid to the families of the slain PNP-SAF commandos.

As of March 27, the Department has already received a total of P912,289.06. (DSWD)

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