City assures help for Zambo refugees

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government is attending to the needs of the Zamboanga City residents who have sought refuge here owing to the ongoing conflict home, assured City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete.

Poblete said personnel of the Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) immediately took action upon learning of the refugees’ arrival from Mindanao.

“As far as the city is concerned, we are attending to their immediate needs. We will extend help within the legal bounds,” Poblete said. He added that the city is looking into the possibility of extending financial assistance to the evacuees.

DSWS chief Dr. Ester Concha said they have identified 16 related families of the 60 individuals from Zamboanga.

“We have given them one sack of rice, sleeping mats and the like. Upon assessment, we learned that they belong to one clan and travelled together when they got the chance,” Concha said.

The evacuees from barangay Talon-Talon in Zamboanga City, more than half of whom are children, are staying in a compound in Labangon.

Apart from DSWS, the Basak Pardo Emergency Rescue (BPER) unit is also helping the refugees. Volunteer psychologists from BPER are conducting debriefing sessions.

Concha said the evacuees have assured to return home once the siege ends because they have businesses in Mindanao.

Mayor Michael Rama, who is in Manila at present, said earlier that the city is willing to help Zamboanga and the disaster funds might be utilized for this purpose. — /JMO (FREEMAN)