With the help of partners, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to make the psycho-social well-being of Mt. Kanlaon evacuees a major priority to foster a sense of normalcy while they are staying at the evacuation centers.
“We continue to conduct psycho-social activities at the child-friendly and women-friendly spaces in the evacuation centers to alleviate the stress and anxiety of the evacuees,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said on Monday (January 20).
Based on the latest report of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Management, Information Communication (DROMIC), a total of 12,286 families were affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas). Of the 5,769 families directly displaced by the eruption, more than 3,000 families are currently taking temporary shelter in 23 evacuation centers in the two regions.
“Our Field Offices in Western and Central Visayas conducted activities such as arts and crafts making, storytelling sessions, parenting dialogues, and various mental health interventions in partnership with the local and national government agencies, and other private organizations,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out.
Personnel from the DSWD’s Field Office (FO) 6 helped the La Castellana Elementary School in setting up temporary learning sessions to help students cope with the situation. This also ensures that the education of the children-evacuees will not be compromised by their stay in evacuation centers.
Apart from the psycho-social interventions, the DSWD FO-7 also initiated medical consultations and check-ups for the evacuees in, partnership with the Provincial Health Office, City Health Office, the Department of Health, and the doctors from the Ace Dumaguete Doctor’s, Incorporated.
“The continuous collaborative efforts by the Quick Response Teams (QRTs) of our Field Offices in Regions 6 and 7 are in response to the directive of the Secretary to exert efforts at providing quality disaster response to the evacuees of Mt. Kanlaon,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
In an interview with PTV4 on January 13, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian reiterated the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr for quality and sustained disaster response to Mt. Kanlaon internally displaced individuals.
“Utos ng Pangulo, hindi man natin kaya ibigay yung kanilang comfort sa bahay pero kailangan siguraduhin na hanggang sa kaya natin, kumportable pa rin sila sa evacuation center,” the DSWD chief said. (GDVF)
