The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will continue to facilitate the release of financial assistance to the dependents of the 44 PNP Special Action Force (SAF) personnel who were killed-in-action (KIA) during the 2015 Mamasapano clash.

In the last quarter of 2015, the DSWD expedited the release of the first tranche of the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) amounting to P11,378,338.59  to 71 dependents. The funding for the assistance was sourced from the President’s Social Fund (PSF) of the previous administration under the “Social Services Program for the Families of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) Personnel killed in Military and Police Operations.”

The program was created through an inter-agency collaboration of the DSWD, Department of National Defense (DND), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Presidential Management Staff (PMS). It aims to provide sustainable livelihood and skills training, education, and medical assistance to the bereaved families of KIA personnel.

DSWD, as the lead social protection agency, conducted assessment of the skills and capabilities of the dependents to determine the appropriate and viable livelihood projects that they can implement. The Department also assisted them in the preparation of their project proposals and subsequently monitors the status of their project implementation.

To expedite the release of the second tranche of assistance, the Department, through its Field Offices, will assist the dependents in completing the liquidation reports and other supporting documents for the first tranche released to them. ###