The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Office (FO) in Region V, is currently conducting hospital visits to provide psychosocial counseling and program orientation to patients who were injured from the recent devastation brought by Tropical Depression Usman.

Social workers of the Department recently visited the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) in Albay to check the condition of patients and to provide an orientation on the DSWD programs that they can avail, specifically the medical assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

AICS provides support to the recovery of individuals and families from unexpected crisis such as illness or death of a family member through natural and man-made calamities, and other crisis situations.

“Solo lang ako sa buhay, wala akong kasama dito sa ospital. Salamat at nakapunta ang DSWD.  Sana ay mabigyan ako ng tulong. May mga gamot na kailangan na bilhin. Sana ay makatulong kayo sa akin (Because I live alone, I have no one to accompany me in the hospital. I thank the DSWD for visiting me and I hope that they can help me to finance the medication that I need),” said Nesturio Consulta, one of the patients brought to BRTTH after getting his leg injured during the onslaught of ‘Usman.’

Meanwhile, the Department is also continuously conducting interview, assessment, and payouts of P5,000 to families in need of burial and medical assistance.

One of the recipients of the DSWD’s burial assistance is Melissa Dubos from Brgy. Bariis in Tiwi, Albay. Her partner was strung by electricity cables from a toppled post during a landslide incident on December 29, 2018.

“Nagpapasalamat ako dahil may mga nakarating nang tulong sa amin ngunit mas masaya sana kung kasama pa din namin siya ngayon (I’m grateful of the aid we received but we can be happier if he is still with us today),” Dubos said.

She was advised by a DSWD social worker during the interview and stress debriefing that despite the challenges that she experienced, she needs to stay strong for her two children and to keep them motivated by assuring them that they can get through this together.

As of today, the Department has already provided P36,250,400.69 worth of assistance to the families affected by ‘Usman,”; of which, P26,478,800.75 worth of aid was provided to the families in Bicol Region.

“We want to express our deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones during the recent calamity. Rest assured that the DSWD will continue to provide comfort and assist you as you recover from the devastation that you experienced,” said DSWD spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Glenda Relova. ###