By Claro A. Lanipa
ZAMBOANGA CITY – To facilitate an
orderly and smooth distribution of food ration to a huge number of displaced families
inside the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial sports complex, the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) adopted a new scheme.
Using their “blue card” or family access card issued by
the DSWD, the affected families could easily get their daily subsistence in
designated areas per barangay. To maintain and control the crowd PNP personnel
were also utilized.
As of 7:30am today the updated data from the DSWD operation
center shows a total number of 3,115 affected families or 15, 014 persons
distributed in several evacuation centers including government facilities in
the city.
Meanwhile, DSWD-IX OIC Regional Director Zenaida
Arevalo said they are doing all they could to make sure that needs of the evacuees
are met, particularly those of women and children as directed by no less than
President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman personally
visited the evacuation centers yesterday. She extolled the people of Zamboanga
for generously giving out donations to augment government’s efforts in providing
assistance to the displaced families. (PIA9)