The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday received a P1 million cash donation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) intended to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi City and its neighboring municipalities. The donation is also meant to be utilized to assist Comelec employees who have been affected by the ongoing armed conflict in the aforementioned city.

DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo accepted the donation from Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista during the turnover ceremony held at the Comelec Main Office in Intramuros, Manila.

“We want to thank the Comelec for this cash donation. This is the first donation that we have received from another government institution. This gesture sends an important  message that government agencies are coming together to assist our people in Marawi,” Sec. Taguiwalo said. “We will do our best to judiciously use all donations for the relief and recovery of Filipinos affected by the armed conflict in Marawi.”

The donation from Comelec was approved by the Commission en banc and came from the poll body’s annual budget for 2017.

“Yung pondo galing sa aming General Appropriations Act. Ito ay ibinigay natin sa DSWD na pinamumunuan ni Sec. Taguiwalo para bumili ng anumang gamit para sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan sa Marawi (The budget came from the General Appropriations Act. We give this donation to the DSWD, which is being led by Sec. Taguiwalo, to help provide the needs of our fellow citizens in Marawi),” Chairman Bautista was quoted in reports.

The Comelec chairman noted that aside from the cash donation, the agency’s poll body employees nationwide were able to collect the same amount which was given to assist the Comelec employees in Lanao del Sur who are also affected by the armed conflict.

The DSWD will use the donation to purchase additional food for distribution to the affected families who are currently staying in evacuation centers and in their relatives and friend’s houses in nearby regions. It will submit a report to Comelec after 30 days.

The Department and its concerned Field Offices continue to assist the Marawi-crisis affected families. ###