ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Nov. 16 (PIA) -- - Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) Chief, Cherlita Garate, submitted a request for financial support to the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) for the recently war-affected families in Zamboanga Sibugay and the latter approved it during its recent Regular Session.
The approved budget reached the amount of P676,000 based on the estimated initial needs of the displaced families of the municipalities of Alicia, Payao and Talusan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
According to Garate, food and livelihood are the twin problems that currently beset the displaced families here.
Garate underscored that the support and aid of the provincial government is very much essential in such times.
“We really need to ask the support of our provincial government during these times because we are the frontlines of making sure that our people, though displaced, are sustained to survive”, said Garate.
A total of 2,167 displaced families from Payao, Alicia and Talusan municipalities fight for daily survival.
On October 16 at around 9:00 o’clock in the evening, an encounter between government troops and lawless elements transpired in Sitio Talaib. The tragedy started the number of encounters between the government troops and lawless elements that resulted in the evacuation of families to safer grounds.
To date, many displaced families temporarily stay at designated evacuation centers and Local Government Units (LGUs), while few decided voluntarily to return to their homes . (NBE/P. Lontua)
