The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reached out to all the families of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos killed during the clash with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) in Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25, through counseling/stress debriefing, financial aid, and other forms of assistance.

In coordination with local government units (LGUs), the DSWD has already provided financial aid to 32 families through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) depending on the needs of the family as assessed by the social workers who interviewed the family members.

Likewise, to date, DSWD has conducted counseling/stress debriefing to 26 families including the wives, children, parents, and siblings of the slain commandos, to help them cope with their current emotional situation.

Cognizant that the families lost their breadwinners, DSWD has offered them livelihood and employment to qualified family members to sustain their source of income, as well as educational assistance for the children to continue their schooling.

The elderly parents are also assessed for inclusion in the Social Pension for indigent senior citizens.

To date, 27 families have been assessed for livelihood assistance, while nine elderly parents have been enrolled to the DSWD’s Social Pension program for Indigent Senior Citizens.

The DSWD continues to assess the needs of the families.

Meanwhile, DSWD continues to receive donations as an aid to the families of the slain PNP-SAF commandos. As of February 26, the Department has already received a total of P869,562.87.

The daily updates on donations can be accessed through dswd.gov.ph. ###