Zamboanga City – To provide a safer place for families affected by the clash between the military and the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari Faction in September 2013, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has established seven transitory sites in this city.
These are the Joaquin F. Enriquez Sports complex (JFESC) Grandstand Bunkhouses, Tulungatung Transitional Shelter, Taluksangay Transitional Shelter, Rio Hondo Transitional Shelter, Mampang Transitional Shelter, PTSI-Philippine Tuberculosis Society, Inc. in Upper Calarian, and Sta.Catalina (Paniran), a single detached recovery shelter.
The Zamboanga crisis affected 23,794 families or 118, 819 persons. The armed conflict also totally destroyed a total of 10,160 houses displacing 28,798 families or 145,334 persons.
As of June 15, a total of 1,547 families or 8,381 individuals were transferred to 1,661 rooms of bunkhouses/transitional sites.
The transfer of families to Sta. Catalina Transitional Site will take place as soon as the required amenities and utilities are in place. The site will be completed on July 15. An additional 20 units of single-detached recovery shelters will also be constructed by the Engineering Brigade in Sta. Catalina.
Bunkhouses and temporary shelters are being constructed with the help of humanitarian organizations, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Habitat for Humanity.
Meanwhile, four evacuation centers remain operational housing 3,168 families or 17,198 individuals. These are at JFESC, Cawa-Cawa Shoreline, Zamboanga East Central School, and Talon-Talon Elementary School.
Recovery, rehabilitation phase
According to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman who is in Zamboanga City today, the city is already in the recovery and rehabilitation stage after the relief distribution phase ended in March.
A total of 542,272 food packs with 3 kgs. of rice and 2,065,236 ready-to-eat meals were provided to affected families.
Presently, assistance is more on Food-for-Work (FFW) and Cash-for-Work (CFW).
From September 2013 to April 2014, some 466 individuals already benefited from the CFW program with total cost of P3,813,300. Participants are given cash in exchange for doing community works along disaster relief operations.
At the same time, DSWD is currently implementing FFW for 6,000 persons in transitional sites and evacuation centers until July 2014. The beneficiaries engage in repair/renovation of school buildings/premises, gardening, canal-dredging and maintenance of cleanliness, and sanitation in transitional shelters and evacuation centers.
As part of rehabilitation, DSWD is also providing livelihood assistance to the affected families through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
Some 970 victims who are members of Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) Associations will receive P10,000 each as capital seed augmentation to enable them to engage in small business enterprises. A total of P9.7 million is allotted for this program.
Together with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), DSWD also conducts skills training for the affected families, such as mat-weaving, bracelet-making and haircutting inside the JFESC.
Other forms of assistance
DSWD and partner-agencies also continue to look after the health needs and safety of the survivors.
A Health Center is being maintained in the JFESC complete with medical personnel and ambulance to assist evacuees. Likewise, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Emergency Unit is operating 24/7 there.
DSWD has also put up an endowment fund of P500,000.00 in Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) to address the medical needs of the survivors.
There were 241 clients from March 18 to April 18 based on the report submitted by ZCMC. Services include confinement, consultation, laboratory examinations, X-ray, CT scan, ultra sound, and medicines.
On the other hand, the IOM deployed five nurses also at JFESC to assist in health promotion and monitoring of cases of malnutrition. A tent-to-tent medical outreach program was conducted by the CHO to the families along the Cawa-Cawa Shoreline.
Likewise, provision of educational assistance to an estimated 4,333 students is on-going.
District 2 Congresswoman Lilia Nuno has also committed to assist in the education of some students.
Balik-Barangay
To assist families who want to return to their places of origin, the DSWD implements the Balik-Probinsya and Balik-Barangay Program.
As of June 14, some 564 individuals have already returned to their respective places of origin.
DSWD spent P645,630 for their transportation expenses and allowances. They were also given pabaon packs.
“We are all working hard to hasten the recovery and rehabilitation of the affected families so they can return to normal life, as soon as possible, “ Sec. Soliman ended. ###
