The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to provide stress debriefing to Typhoon ‘Ferdie’ survivors in Batanes.

Five social workers who were trained on Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) in DSWD Field Office (FO) II will be deployed to help relieve the stress and trauma experienced by the typhoon victims.

CISD is a process professionally conducted to help prevent or limit the development of post-traumatic stress among people who are exposed to critical incidents such as typhoons, wars, and disasters.

Aside from stress debriefing, four DSWD FO-II staff have distributed themselves in the various affected municipalities to provide augmentation support in relief operations.

Based on the latest report from the DSWD FO-II, 2,824 families or 10,451 individuals in Batanes and Cagayan were affected by the typhoon. Only one evacuation center in Basco remains open since most of the families affected by the typhoon are now back in their homes.

A total of 1,364 houses were considered totally and partially damaged in the municipalities of Basco, Ivana, Uyugan, and Itbayat.

The local government of Itbayat has requested for additional shelter assistance such as ropes and tarpaulins, as well as, candles, food and water supplies which the provincial government will try to deliver thru airlift starting today, September 19.

DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo remains confident that all typhoon victims will be provided with assistance since the response team from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and DSWD is prompt in delivering supplies since the start of the relief mission last weekend.

“The relief mission is far from over as long as there are still families in need of the government’s assistance. We will help them in whatever means we can,” said Sec. Taguiwalo. ###