DSWD starts relief distribution to Marawi families

MANILA, Philippines -  As thousands of families have been displaced by the siege of Marawi City by terrorist groups Maute and Abu Sayyaf, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started distributing relief assistance at the evacuation centers in Iligan City and in nearby towns of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.

The DSWD Field Office (FO) 12, based in Koronadal City, sent out 20,000 family food packs, 20,000 pieces of malong, 3,000 pieces of hygiene kits, 3,000 plastic mats, 1,000 high-energy biscuits, 1,000 bottles of mineral water and 20 rolls (at 100 meters per roll) of laminated sacks yesterday to the newly opened operations center in Malabang town, more than 73 kilometers southwest of Marawi City.

The FO 10, based in Cagayan de Oro City, also started assisting displaced families who took refuge in Iligan City – about 48 kilometers away – and in Lanao del Norte province, while the Davao City-based FO 11 started prepositioning food packs aside from ensuring that evacuation centers are opened and safe areas where tents can be installed by those who evacuated are provided.

The DSWD Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DReAMB) and the National Resource Operations Center also coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for the transport of 10,000 additional food packs, tents and other non-food items.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said BRP Batangas left Manila Wednesday night and that at least three more trucks are waiting to be loaded on another ship.

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial assured the public that all hospitals in Mindanao are fully operational and ready to provide medical services to everyone – be they civilians, government workers or rebels. – With Evelyn Macairan, Mayen Jaymalin