The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) today extended its assistance to civilians caught in the crossfire between fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and supposed residents of Brgy. Bualan, Balindong in Lanao del Sur. The firefight started over the weekend and  has resulted to more families being forced to flee the encounter area  and find safety in neighboring villages.

DSWD Field Office XII  has reported that as of  8 am today,  some 1,300 families with 6,500 members from barangays Bualan, Dibarosan, Abaga, Barit, Bubong-Cadapaan and Lati have been affected by the firefight. In response to the crisis situation created by the firefight, FO XII  will provide 1,500 family food packs as resource augmentation to the affected  barangays.

It also continues to coordinate with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Balindong for updates on the incident, as well as for the provision of additional relief supplies for the affected families.

DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo said that the Department will exert its best effort to work hand in hand with other government agencies to ensure that the safety and the food needs of the affected families are addressed.

“The causes of armed conflict in many parts of the country are myriad, but  almost all of them in one way or another connect to the problems of deep-seated poverty and social injustice. Even as we provide for the emergency needs of the citizens affected by armed conflict, we should not neglect to address the root causes of the conflict.  On the part of the DSWD and the Duterte administration, we are doing our best to help the poor in Mindanao and to provide the people means of livelihood and improved nutrition for the children,” she said.

“These efforts, we know, are not enough, so we must all work together and support other comprehensive efforts to control and end poverty – and these efforts should begin with the implementation of a genuine agrarian reform program in Mindanao.” #