The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Field Office (FO) in Region IV-A CALABARZON is continuously coordinating with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Batangas City to monitor the condition of families from Barangay Talumpok Silangan and nearby villages who have been forced to evacuate when an armed conflict between the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and a faction of the New People’s Army (NPA) started in the area last September 24.
As of 6pm yesterday, the DSWD Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DReAMB) reported that a total of 113 families or 490 individuals have been affected by the armed conflict in four barangays.
The affected residents are staying in an evacuation center in the city, where they are provided with hot meals and family food packs by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Batangas City.
The CSWDO is currently profiling the Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) to ensure that all of them are given assistance.
DSWD FO CALABARZON has already sent an initial assistance to the evacuees. It continues to coordinate closely with the CSWDO to augment whatever assistance it needs to be able respond to the needs of the affected families and individuals.
In addition, the Philippine Red Cross – Batangas Chapter has also provided relief goods to the evacuees.
To help the affected residents, especially children, cope with the trauma brought by the armed conflict in their area, the CSWDO has also conducted stress debriefing and counseling sessions.
The DSWD maintains its close coordination with the Batangas City LGU to ensure that all evacuees are provided with assistance as they wait for their chance to return home. | DSWD
