Just today, May 26, 2017, the DSWD-ARMM, DSWD-Field Office X, and the Central Office through the Disaster Response and Management Bureau (DREAMB) met to come up with a plan to further coordinate the assistance provided to the internally displaced persons caused by the clashes in Marawi City.

As agreed upon in the meeting, all evacuees from Marawi, both from evacuation centers and home-based evacuees in Lanao del Norte and Iligan City will be handled by the City Government of Iligan, and to be supported/augmented by DSWD-FO X.

On the other hand, evacuees found in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City will be handled by the ARMM agencies. DSWD Central Office and FO XII will provide support/ augmentation to the ARMM.

Evacuation centers will continue to be provided with assistance until the families and individuals are able to get back to their communities. Continuous monitoring of the condition of Internally Displaced Persons  (IDPs)  will also be undertaken.

“Evacuees in evacuation centers and those staying with their relatives will be provided assistance. It is equally important to assist home-based evacuees. As of now, they are mostly in Iligan City and they number more than the IDPs in evacuation centers. Assistance should be given to evacuees staying in their relatives’ houses after undergoing validation as well,” DSWD Sec. Judy Taguiwalo said.

The personnel and social workers from the local government units (LGUs) of Iligan, together with  FO X will conduct validation.  Upon validation, all IDPs will be provided Disaster Assistance and Family Access (DAFAC) Cards. DAFAC will only be needed for home-based evacuees.

The DAFAC is an identification card used to ensure smoothness in the distribution of goods and services to the IDPs.

CO and FOs to Augment Marawi City’s IDPs

“The Central Office, including the FOs conveniently located near ARMM, and other FOs that have the capacity to augment ARMM will also be providing assistance through its workforce and provisions. This is what we call sama-samang paglilingkod  sa bayan ng may malasakit,” Sec. Taguiwalo said.

As of May 25, 2017, DSWD FO X has provided 1,500 food packs to augment the needs of the 130 displaced families found in Iligan City.  It has also provided 136 pieces of blankets, towels, tumblers, slippers, and sleeping mats to 136 evacuees staying at the Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in Tibanga, Iligan City.

It has also provided 260 family food packs (at 2 packs per family) to 153 displaced families staying at Buruun School of Fisheries; 37 families in Pagawayan Brgy Hall, Bacolod City; and, 40 families in Baloi, Brgy Hall.

DSWD FO XII yesterday brought 20,000 food packs to replenish the required 30,000 prepositioned goods. Aside from food packs, 20,000 pcs. of malong, 3,000 hygiene kits, 3,000 plastic mats, 1,000 High Energy Biscuits, 1,000 pieces of bottled mineral water, 20 rolls of laminated sacks are also provided.

FO- XII’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) staff are also now in Marawi City and nearby municipalities to assist and/or augment DSWD ARMM.

Coming from the DSWD Central Office, 10,000 relief goods were transported with the help of Philippine Coast Guard through its BRP Batangas going to Marawi City. Though due to the sheer number of goods and other loads aside from relief goods caused the ship to reach its maximum capacity, it was only able to transport 1,700 food packs,  10,000 plastic mats, 2,934 blankets, and 2,704 dignity kits for Marawi City. The relief items are expected to arrive this afternoon.

The Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC) in Cebu has also sent 3,400 food packs  while another 6600 packs  transported by four trucks will be arriving tonight.

DSWD FO CARAGA will also be shipping the following: 15,000 food packs, 112 hygiene kits; 11,000 malong; 2,769 mosquito nets; 2,769 plastic mats; 6,500 blankets; 150 solar lamps; and, 57 rolls laminated sacks. The relief goods are expected to arrive tomorrow morning in Iligan. These goods are allocated for ARMM to be coursed through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

A total of 26,700 family food packs will be arriving from today until tomorrow to augment the needs of IDPs from Marawi City.

“In keeping with the goal to provide prompt and compassionate service to the people, prepositioning goods nearby Marawi ensures readiness and effectiveness of our relief operations,” Sec. Taguiwalo said.###