by: Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN CITY, Nov. 2 (PIA) -– The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that social preparations are being provided to displaced families from the municipalities affected by the armed conflict for their eventual return to their respective places of origin.
In Zamboanga Sibugay, families who are staying in evacuation centers are being provided with counseling and stress debriefing sessions before they go back to their own home. The DSWD will also immediately release the cash grants under the Pantawid Pamilya to help the families as they return home. Majority of the family evacuees are Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.
On October 28, 2011 DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman together with DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and OPAPP Secretary Teresita Deles visited the evacuation centers in Zamboanga Sibugay to assess the situation of the evacuees.
“I was pleased to see that the evacuation centers were clean and the evacuees were doing well. Social workers managing the evacuation centers continue to provide the evacuees counseling sessions and play therapy to children to reduce the trauma that they are undergoing,” Secretary Soliman said.
The DSWD also reported that as of October 30, some evacuees have started to return home.
Meanwhile, the Cash-for-Work/Training will soon be implemented after social workers from concerned local government units have identified and validated the beneficiaries. The Cash-for-Work is a temporary intervention that provides cash for beneficiaries in exchange for undertaking community projects such as construction and repair of destroyed houses and community facilities, garbage collection and management, road repair, and dredging of canals among others.
During her visit to Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay, Secretary Soliman distributed checks for cash-for-work to the following: Payao and Alicia at P2 million each while Talusan, Mabuhay and Olutanga - P1 million each.
The DSWD said that in addition to the provision of relief assistance, early recovery and rehabilitation plans include among others the rehabilitation and construction of access roads in the affected areas. To further lessen the vulnerabilities of the families, a sustainable livelihood program will be provided to them so that they can live better and normal lives.
DSWD social workers continue to coordinate with the concerned local government units to determine appropriate follow-through services for evacuees who will be returning home. (DSWD9/PIA9/ALT/CAL/Zambo Sur)
