The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) social workers are holding psychosocial activities for children, women and other vulnerable sectors affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the province of Sarangani last June 8.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized that the Department places importance not only on providing food and water assistance but also on delivering psychosocial support to help affected families overcome the trauma of the earthquake.
“Sa Glan, Sarangani, nagsagawa ang DSWD Field Office 12 at mga partner agency ng child-friendly activities para sa 20 batang evacuees upang matulungan silang mai-proseso ang kanilang nararamdaman, mabawasan ang stress at muling makaramdam ng kapanatagan sa kabila ng kanilang pinagdaanan (In Glan, Sarangani, the DSWD Field Office 12 and partner agencies conducted child-friendly activities for 20 child-evacuees to help them process what they are feeling, ease their stress and find peace of mind once more amid what they are going through),” Gatchalian said in a social media post on Thursday.
As of June 18, the DSWD’s Angels in Red Vests were able to serve a total of 168 beneficiaries within child-friendly spaces and have provided psychological first aid to 74 individuals through play therapy, art sessions and other interactive activities.
Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group reported that the Department’s Mindanao Field Offices continuously conduct Camp Coordination and Camp Management to ensure that internally displaced persons, particularly children and women, remain comfortable and safe inside the evacuation centers.
“Sa DSWD hindi pwedeng basta lang nakapag-provide tayo ng tulong. Ang utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., dapat naibibigay natin lahat ng pangunahing pangangailangan ng ating mga benepisyaryo lalo na sa mga bata, babae, mga matatanda, at kasama na dito ang pagmonitor ng social workers sa kanila at pag conduct ng mini programs tulad ng child-friendly activities (At the DSWD, it is not enough to provide help. The directive of President Marcos is to provide all the basic needs of our beneficiaries, especially the children, women and the elderly, and that includes monitoring by social workers and the conduct of mini programs like child-friendly activities)” the DSWD spokesperson said in a statement.
Based on the 6 a.m. report of the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring, Information and Communication, the DSWD has distributed a total of 381,998 family food packs, 10,664 non-food items and 10,364 ready-to-eat food packs, amounting to PHP270.24 million in humanitarian aid.
The DSWD has also deployed four Mobile Command Centers, five mobile kitchens, water tanks and filtration systems to support disaster response operations.
The total displaced population currently stands at 86,006 individuals (21,876 families).
Of this figure, 22,655 individuals (5,203 families) are taking shelter in 48 designated evacuation centers across Mindanao, while the remaining 63,351 individuals (16,673 families) have chosen to stay with relatives or friends.
Dumlao said the DSWD is committed to continuously provide augmentation support to the internally displaced families and individuals in coordination with their respective local government units to ensure that sustained and appropriate assistance is provided. (PNA)