The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Field Office National Capital Region (FO NCR) assisted individuals who have been stranded in various localities in the region due to the community quarantine.

As part of its mandate to provide assistance to individuals in crisis situation, the Department upon receipt of the call immediately responded to the needs of 633 Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) who have been affected by the COVID outbreak and are temporarily staying at the Villamor Airbase Elementary School and at Philippine State College of Aeronautics in Pasay City.

To date, DSWD has so far provided a total of Php 2,192,628.67 million worth of assistance to the affected individuals consisting of 633 sleeping kits, 633 sanitary kits and a financial assistance of Php 2,000 each to 539 LSIs.  The Department also conducted Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) – 21 health protocol.

DSWD emphasized that its Field Offices have enough resources to assist the local government units (LGUs) respond to the needs of the LSIs.

Meanwhile, in order to ensure that operational concerns are addressed, DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista instructed the Field Offices’ Directors to sustain their coordinative and collaborative efforts with national government agencies (NGAs) and other entities and to provide assistance to individuals affected by the community quarantine.

The LSIs include Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have completed their mandatory 14-day quarantine and are waiting for their flights, vacationers and passengers whose flights were cancelled due to community quarantine. Most of the LSIs expressed their hope to be able to return to their respective provinces such as Davao, Dipolog, and Zamboanga.

The Department continues to coordinate and collaborate with partner agencies such as DILG – NCR, MMDA, AFP, PNP, LGU Pasay and other stakeholders to determine the appropriate intervention or assistance to LSIs. ###