Compostela Valley – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and concerned local government units (LGUs) hold a simultaneous public assembly with typhoon ‘Pablo’ victims during relief distributions in the different barangays of Compostela Valley province.
The public assembly is part of the concerted efforts between the DSWD and concerned LGUs to fully disseminate information and update of relief operations initiatives of the government at the barangay level. “This assembly will also directly tackle issues and concerns, as well as get views and sentiments of the families affected by the disaster,” said Evangeline Grandeza, DSWD FO XI regional focal person for Family Development Session (FDS) of Pantawid.
During the assembly, in Barangay Macopa in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, Barangay Captain Domingo Jucoy said that all those who were listed as victims of typhoon Pablo were given relief aids by the DSWD since day one. According to him those who were not able to receive relief goods were the ones who did not come to the barangay for listing. They thought that there are fees being collected upon listing.
“I strongly deny that there are families who were not served in my barangay,” emphasized Barangay Captain Jucoy. In front of the constituents, he asked simple a question on who among the affected families did not receive assistance. “No one among the crowd raised hands. He said that those who were not served came after Pablo, and they appealed to be included in the list,” Jucoy added.
In Barangay Macopa in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, there are 667 families who regularly receive relief packs from the DSWD.
Meanwhile, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) head of Compostela Josephine Frasco said that the provincial government together with the DSWD FO XI is conducting an assessment of Pablo victims to determine if the affected families still need further assistance.
“Ang paghatag sa relief goods pagtabang lamang aron makasuporta sa batakang panginahanglan sa mga biktima. Apan gikinahanglan nga manglimbasog ang mga tawo aron makabangon ug magpadayon sa ilang normal nga kinabuhi (Giving of relief packs is only augmentation or support to able to sustain victims’ basic needs. Victims should also do their part in order for them to go back to their normal social functioning),” Frasco said.
On the other hand, Rita Martin, member of Barug Katawhan and Bayan Muna Party List, who witnessed the relief distribution in barangay Macopa acknowledged the continuing support of the DSWD to disaster victims in Compostela Valley.
She said that, “The DSWD and our group are united in relief operation efforts to see to it that all donations to disaster victims are really given to the real beneficiaries.” ###