The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Office (FO) VII, has extended relief assistance to families who have been displaced by demolition activities in two barangays in Cebu City.

In coordination with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the FO has provided family food packs (FFPs) to 114 displaced families at Barangay Apas and Sitio Avocado, Barangay Lahug.

The FO will also distribute food packs to affected residents at Sitio La Guardia, also situated at Barangay Lahug.

Further, FO VII continues to work closely with the City Government of Cebu in monitoring the situation of the affected families and in further assessing their needs.

Under the Local Government Code, LGUs are the first responders before, during, and after a disaster. They are primarily responsible for disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response.

DSWD, on the other hand, is mandated to provide technical assistance and resource augmentation (TARA) to LGUs in the implementation of SWD programs and services. By providing TARA, the Department helps LGUs better assist their constituents who are in need, ensuring better service on the ground. -30-