GENERAL SANTOS CITY, June 13 -- The Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) in Region 12 delivered around 35,000 family food packs in
the last three weeks to augment the continuing relief operations for residents
displaced by the conflict in Marawi City.
Norhata Benito, DSWD-12’s disaster risk reduction and management
operations head, said they brought the food packs to evacuation centers run by
the DSWD and local government units (LGUs) in Region 10 and in the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
She said some of their personnel are currently assisting the relief
operations in Marawi City and the neighboring areas.
Marawi City is part of the ARMM, but it is covered by some of the
programs under the DSWD-12, among them the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
or 4Ps.
“We’re currently repacking additional relief goods to cope with the
needs of the evacuees there,” Benito said.
The official described the ongoing relief distribution in Marawi as
difficult as a number of evacuees have not sought shelter in identified
evacuation centers of the LGUs.
She said some preferred to seek help from their friends and relatives
due to the challenging situation in the evacuation centers.
“It’s the month of Ramadan so it’s really difficult for us, Muslims, to
be staying in evacuation centers,” she said.
Aside from augmenting the relief operations, Benito said they have
assisted a number of families from Marawi who were forced to relocate in parts
of the region.
She said more than 100 of their personnel had sought assistance for
their displaced families and relatives.
“Some have relocated to as far as Sarangani Province,” she said.
Also known as Soccsksargen, Region 12 comprises the provinces of South
Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of
General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
Benito added that they are currently reaching out to their other
employees who have relatives who resettled in the region. (AVE/PNA)
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