Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured on Wednesday (March 26) the rescued Filipinos from an alleged case of trafficking in person in Myanmar will be provided with psychosocial interventions and other assistance to support their rehabilitation and reintegration into their families and communities.
“Ang role ng DSWD ay rehabilitation and reintegration. May package of services naman (from different agencies), pero whole-of-government approach. The DSWD will step in, kasama namin ang Department of Health (DOH) in making sure na nade-debrief nang maayos—yung psychosocial interventions. Nandyan ang social workers namin since yesterday,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
The DSWD chief, together with officials from concerned government agencies, welcomed the repatriated Filipinos at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 early Wednesday morning.
Secretary Gatchalian said the agency’s ultimate goal is to return the repatriates to their families and reintegrate them into their communities while ensuring that they receive the appropriate interventions to lessen their emotional and mental distress.
“We will make sure na maunawaan namin yung indibidwal na mga kaso para maibalik natin sila nang maayos sa kanilang mga pamilya. Seamless reintegration sa kanilang komunidad at kanilang pamilya—yan yung ultimate goal natin…Importante yung psychosocial interventions to make sure na yung pinagdaanan nila na-a-address—yung emotional scarring, mental issues—para pagbalik nila sa komunidad nila ay handa sila to be reintegrated to their families,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Aside from psychosocial services, the DSWD will also provide financial assistance to help them start anew.
According to Secretary Gatchalian, while the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is providing the initial accommodations of the repatriates, the DSWD is ready to provide temporary shelter for those who may not yet be prepared to be reintegrated immediately.
“May additional din kaming hinanda na financial assistance. At the same time, bagamat pino-provide ng DMW yung initial na stay nila sa hotel, in the event na hindi pa sila ready na umuwi sa kanilang communities, we can also provide temporary housing for them in one of our shelters,” the DSWD chief said.
A total of 176 individuals from Myanmar were brought back to the Philippines on Wednesday. The first batch, comprising 30 repatriates, arrived in the country on Tuesday (March 25). (YADP)