The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be providing psychosocial and financial support for the families of migrant Filipinos who were affected by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar last March 28.

In line with the directive of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the agency has committed to provide the assistance during a meeting with various national government agencies on Monday (April 7).

Director Maria Isabel Lanada of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB), who attended the inter-agency meeting, said the Department will deploy psychological first aid (PFA) providers to help alleviate the emotional and mental distress experienced by the families of identified Filipinos who were affected by the Myanmar tremor.

“We have committed to augment psychological first aid providers. We in the DRMB are just preparing the list of personnel,” Director Lanada said.

As agreed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – Office of the Undersecretary for Migration Affairs (OUMA) and other concerned agencies, the government aid would initially prioritize the families and relatives of the 18 identified Filipinos who survived the earthquake.

Aside from the ‘Kumustahan’ sessions with the families, the DSWD also pledged to extend financial support under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), as well as family food packs (FFPs).

This aid, according to Director Lanada, is critical since the most affected were overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Myanmar whose source of income was disrupted due to the disaster.

“We can provide AICS and family food packs sa pamilya nila rito sa Pilipinas, lalo na ‘di nakakapagpadala ang mga OFWs after ng earthquake,” Director Lanada pointed out.

The DSWD will also send a team of PFA providers to Myanmar, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), to further support those directly affected by the earthquake.

Director Lanada said this holistic approach ensures that the provision of financial assistance, psychological first aid, and other necessary support will address both the immediate needs of affected families and help build resilience in the long term.

“Through this, DSWD remains committed to ensuring that while responding to the crisis, we also support the well-being and recovery of those affected by the disaster,” Director Lanada said. (LSJ)