Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo expressed her deepest sympathies for the victims of the bombings last night in Davao and said that the department through its field office in the region will provide any assistance it can give to the survivors of the attack and the relatives of those who were killed.

She said that DSWD social workers will provide stress debriefing help to the survivors and all families of the victims, and that the Department will closely coordinate with local government authorities regarding other measures that need to be undertaken to help them.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has already stated that the LGU will shoulder all the hospitalization expenses of those injured, and pay for the burial of those killed.

Sec. Taguiwalo also expressed full support to the efforts of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to address the aftermath of last night’s horrific bombing and to ensure the safety and security of the citizenry not only in Davao, but in the rest of the country.

“Again, we as a people are called upon to show and prove our resilience against tragedies and attacks against our collective safety and security. We must not be divided in our response against attacks such as this and unite in the call for justice for the victims and survivors of the Abu Sayyaf’s terrorism. We must be united in condemning and opposing all efforts and attempts to undermine the rights, safety and security of the Filipino people, ” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo said that the DSWD leadership continues to monitor the security situation not only in Davao but in the rest of the country as well so that its units can take immediate action in the event of any emergency.

She again appealed to the Filipino people to cooperate with the department and other government agencies when it comes to reporting developments that need to be addressed because they are connected to the people’s immediate welfare. #