DSWD extends P92-M aid to Zambo

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has so far released P92.22 million worth of assistance to Zamboanga City residents who have been displaced by the conflict that erupted between Moro National Liberation Front rebels and government troops.

A breakdown of the P92.22-million aid showed that P88.88 million was spent for food assistance; P2.79 million for non-food items; P302,750 for financial assistance and P247,500 for the cash-for-work program to augment the resources of the Zamboanga City government.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman assured the residents that relief operations will continue.

“Community kitchens are also being set up in preparation for the gradual shift from the provision of cooked foods to giving the evacuees the opportunity to cook their own food,” Soliman said.

The DSWD chief added that “affected Badjaos who are staying along the Cawa-Cawa shoreline have articulated their preference to eat their staple food, hence, our social workers have provided them with cassava and dried fish.”

In consideration of the special needs of women and children, DSWD also set up special day care centers and child and women-friendly spaces in the evacuation centers.

As of Thursday, a total of 2,945 children have been provided with supplemental feeding and engaged in supervised neighborhood play.

The provision of psychosocial and critical incident stress debriefing interventions also continues.

The DSWD said that their professional staff debriefed a total of 1,178 evacuees and 193 released hostages who were eventually reunited with their families.

Baguio extends assistance

Meanwhile, the Baguio City council last week allocated P200,000 from its disaster risk reduction management fund as donation to the victims of the clashes in Zamboanga City.

“There are thousands of people who were displaced due to the standoff. Homes as well as properties and people’s livelihood in Zamboanga City were destroyed due to the said crisis. Hence, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Zamboanga City declared their city under a state of calamity,” the resolution said.

“The City of Baguio was also a victim of calamities in the past and we have received donations from generous provinces and cities. It is but proper to reciprocate such generous acts to our city by donating some amounts to calamity-stricken areas,” the resolution further said.  â€“ With Artemio Dumlao, Rudy Santos