Group to govt : Continue giving relief to Yolanda victims

MANILA, Philippines - Around 80 volunteers from Manila to supertyphoon Yolanda hit Tacloban City on Tuesday called on the national government, particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development,  to continue providing relief goods to the affected families.

The group, which is expected to arrive in Tacloban today, urged the DSWD to extend the giving of relief assistance which is scheduled to end on Dec. 31  to the affected families.

The volunteers, members of various people's groups that organize the yearly Paskuhang Paslit, will be in Tacloban and will be holding simple Christmas celebration for children and families in Palo and Barugo, Leyte.

They will be also holding a candle-lighting activity for the victims of Yolanda, 40 days after the calamity.

Alongside continuing aid from the government, the groups will also urge President Benigno Aquino III to expedite the rehabilitation efforts in Yolanda-hit areas, especially in re-constructing schools for kids, homes for their families and livelihoods for their parents.

The Paskuhang Paslit will be held in Palo, Leyte on Dec. 18 and in Barugo, Leyte in the following day.

The event will highlight psychosocial intervention, gift-giving, art workshops and soup kitchen for kids and at the same time distribution of relief goods for their families.