COTABATO CITY — The Department of Education – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) is providing psychosocial intervention to students affected by the July 24 conflagration that hit the villages of Busbus and Walled City in Jolo, Sulu.
“Initially, we administered psychological first aid to Grade 1 to Grade 6 students for them to cope with the trauma of the fire incident,” said lawyer Rasol Mitmug, DepEd-ARMM secretary, in an interview Thursday.
Mitmug said an initial assessment by the DepEd in Jolo indicated that there are at least 92 students affected, comprised of 92 students from Jolo National High School, Sulu National High School (200), 100 pupils from Mohammad Tulawie Central Elementary School (100), and Asturias Elementary School (9).
At present, Mitmug said DepEd-ARMM is also organizing a relief goods donation drive for the families affected by the Jolo fire.
“Those who want to give their donations can visit drop-off sites in the DepEd’s regional and divisions offices,” he said.
Earlier reports indicated that over 5,000 families, or some 30,000 individuals, were displaced by the fire.
The affected families are currently staying at five evacuation centers namely: Jolo Municipal Hall, Jolo Tennis Court, Philippine Muslim College, Notre Dame Gym, and Busbus Barangay Hall.
The regional government has extended initial relief assistance to the fire victims. (Noel Punzalan/PNA)
