By Zaldy De Layola | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is ready to assist residents of Tipo-Tipo in Basilan province who will be directly affected by the ongoing “rido”-related violence.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has directed the Field Office 9 (FO-9) (Zamboanga Peninsula) to be on the alert for the possible augmentation of family food packs (FFPs) and other non-food items (NFIs) that may be needed by residents who might get displaced by the local conflict, according to a news release on Tuesday.
“Tell the mayor of Tipo-Tipo and the governor of Basilan that the DSWD is ready to help them in case there are internally-displaced persons. Keep me updated,” Gatchalian texted FO-9 Regional Director Riduan Hadjimuddin.
Undersecretary Alan Tanjusay of the DSWD’s Peace and Development Group (PDG) reported to Gatchalian that the 14 social workers and project development officers of the PDG are safe in Isabela, Basilan, amid the ongoing conflict in Tipo-Tipo, which started Monday evening.
“Our workers [were] preparing for cash-for-work (CFW) implementation with a batch of former MILF rebels in Basilan when the armed conflict erupted,” Undersecretary Tanjusay said.
The amount of P277 million for the CFW was originally intended for the decommissioning of former combatants, which was called off by top leaders of the MILF last month, according to Tanjusay.
All classes and government work have been cancelled by the local government unit of Tipo-Tipo on Tuesday because of the conflict.
