MANILA, (PNA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will implement cash for work to some displaced families in the evacuation centers in Zamboanga City affected by the armed conflict.
This is according to DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, who personally visited and check the conditions of the displaced families sheltered in evacuation centers.
Under this scheme, Soliman said that the DSWD will pay some able and willing displaced individuals who can perform the clean-up jobs and cooking of food packs for families seeking shelters in the evacuation centers.
“We will be doing that as a way of replenishment for their ‘loss income’ incurred that resulted from the incident of armed conflict between government forces and members of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) since Monday,” Sec. Soliman said.
She said the DSWD Region 9 Field office also augments Zamboanga City mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar’s efforts through provision of family food packs and hot meals amounting to P1,091,150.
The DSWD chief also said that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSO) also donated goods consisting of bottled water, noodles, rice, sardines, bread and biscuits worth P1,061,856.
She added that other groups also provided clothing.
Soliman said that the city government has already provided P1 million worth of hot meals.
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, 15 evacuation centers are currently installed to accommodate more evacuees that went up to about 3,013 families comprising of 14,322 individuals.
These evacuees are spread in the different evacuation centers located in Zamboanga City Grandstand, Martha Drive, Mampang Elementary School, Zambowood Elementary School, Lunzuran Barangay Hall, and Tetuan Parish Church.
There are also displaced families staying at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) compound, Putik Elementary School, Mormons Tetuan, Home for Women, and Processing Center for Displaced Persons (PCPD).
She added that DSWD FO 9 set-up three community kitchens needed so that hot meals are immediately serve to evacuees in the grandstand.
According to Soliman, DSWD personnel are undertaking steps to ensure that lactating mothers, older persons and children who are vulnerable are given the much needed assistance.
“We are also providing additional food supplies for lactating mothers, older persons and children,” she said.
“We are providing them also with high energy-biscuits courtesy of World Food Program (WFP) to keep them energized,” she also said.
Likewise, DSWD social workers initiated the conduct of Supervised Neighborhood Play for children-evacuees, in coordination with a group of volunteers where bread and juice were provided to the children attending the play session.
Meanwhile, the City Health Office and private hospitals had also set-up an emergency hospital at the grandstand where all victims will be provided with medical assistance.
According to Soliman, efforts are now being undertaken to closely coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that affected individuals needing health assistance are swiftly addressed with sufficient medical and food assistance.
Soliman also reiterated that there are enough food supplies prepositioned to ensure that evacuees’ safety, protection and welfare are surely met.