Posted on by SMS

Zamboanga City — With the ten bunkhouses at the Joaquin F. Enriquez (JFE) Sports Complex about to be completed, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) met with officials of Barangays Rio Hondo, Mariki, Sta. Barbara, Sta. Catalina and Kasanyangan to seek their assistance in identifying priority family-beneficiaries.

DSWD Region IX Assistant Regional Director Riduan Hadjimuddin explained that barangay officials are the best persons to determine the families who need the temporary shelters most as they know the circumstances of their constituents.

He added that priority families are those whose houses were partially or totally damaged during the armed conflict, with female heads, pregnant women, lactating mothers, persons with disabilities, and sick persons.

The bunkhouses will have 12 rooms, each accommodating  10-15 persons.

During the meeting, DSWD Region IX Protection Services Chief Ma. Socorro Roxas also asked the help of the officials in maintaining security as well as hygiene and cleanliness at the grandstand.

 The officials committed to assist in identifying the beneficiaries and to help in the overall maintenance of the bunkhouses and the evacuation center. They also committed to help in the provision and distribution of family food packs to the evacuees at the grandstand.

To date, there are still 17 evacuation centers in the city providing temporary shelter to 7,243 families.  Some 4,305 families are staying at the JFE. ###