(Left) As internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the Marawi siege return to their homes, social workers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office (FO) XII distribute cash assistance (Right) and provide psychosocial interventions for children in order to address the possible impacts of the war to their mental and emotional well-being.

In continuation of the early recovery efforts of the government to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the armed conflict in Marawi City, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  released its latest update on the services and interventions to returning IDPs in the war-torn city.

Based on the November 28 data from DSWD- Field Office (FO) XII, a total of P112,008,964.00 worth of assistance has been provided to returning IDPs from Barangays Basak Malutlut, Marawi Poblacion, East Basak, Luksa Datu, Matampay, Tampilong, Datu Saber, Bo. Green, Panggao Saduc, Lumbaca Toros, Bacolod Chico, Toros, Tuca, Poona Marantao, Dayawan, Pindolonan, Bangon, Fort, and Amito Matrantao, Marawi City.

The returning families were provided with “Kambalingan Packages,” a Maranao term for ‘homecoming,’ which is composed of family food packs (FFPs) good for 17 days, hygiene kits and kitchen kits, and financial assistance worth P5,000.

Moreover, a total of P102,266,000.00 cash-for-work (CFW) assistance was released to some 51, 133 beneficiaries in Regions VII, X, CARAGA and ARMM to provide a temporary source of livelihood for the IDPs.

Aside from the distribution of relief items, the Department also continues to perform its role as the lead agency in the Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster by providing protection services in all 70 existing evacuation centers located in Regions X and ARMM.

“We are consistently coordinating with agency members of the Task Force Bangon Marawi to ensure that the needs of our affected kababayans are addressed,” stated DSWD Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Emmanuel A. Leyco.

“Social workers are currently conducting case management and social preparation which include evaluation for needed services and interventions for our vulnerable sectors such as PWDs, elderly and children,” he added.

The Department also plans to create a team with the Department of Health (DOH) and local government to provide the psychosocial needs of the released hostages and their families which will be led by Maranao-speaking staff from the DSWD FO XII.

In addition, a DSWD satellite office will be established to immediately meet the needs of the returnees.

“Our goal here is to show that the families are not just mere numbers affected by the incident. They have their own stories to tell. They have their own rich culture before the conflict. They have their own lives. What we need is to listen to them and work with them as they rise from their current condition,” DSWD OIC Leyco ended. ###