Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman yesterday reported that the total number of affected families remains at 118,819 persons or 23,794 families as most part of city outside the conflict area is starting to go back to normalcy.
In a press conference held yesterday at the Sangguniang Panglunsod in Zamboanga City, Secretary Soliman further reported that there are 20,643 families or 111,162 persons inside the 57 evacuation centers, while there are 11,979 families or 71,265 persons occupying at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex or grandstand.
“We have enough food for the evacuees. DSWD is providing 105,458 cooked meals daily complemented by Philippine Red Cross 10,000 pack meals, and City Government 12,500 family food packs with cooking kitchen utilities to evacuees at Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex,” Secretary Soliman assured.
Other evacuation centers are served with either cooked food or family food packs.
Secretary Soliman stressed that DSWD is strictly allowing only those evacuees with access cards to enter the evacuation centers, to make sure that everyone is being served and secured as well.
“We are closely coordinating and working for community-based and home-based relief assistance through barangay officials and Zamboanga City government to ensure that everyone is served. We are also assisted by the police for the security and safety of evacuees,” Secretary Soliman added.
As of press time, the DSWD allocated a total of P62 million worth of relief assistance. This already includes cash allocations and food and non-food items shipped from DSWD NROC, Regions 7, 10, 11, 12, and CARAGA since day one of the crisis. In addition, the local government unit, and Non-Government Organizations provide relief assistance to the evacuees.
The DSWD likewise released an amount of P35M today for the continuing relief assistance for the evacuees in Zamboanga City.
Food Assistance
Analiza Jul, 30, a resident of Sta. Catalina, expressed her contentment over the government’s services. Her family with five (5) kids left their home in fear of being caught in the crossfire.
“Masaya ako ngayon na ligtas at maayos na nakakakain ang mga anak ko ng tatlong beses isang araw dito sa grandstand (I am happy that my children are safe and are nourished three times a day here at grandstand),” Jul shared.
Jul, who is staying at the grandstand, said she was pleased when DSWD started rationing pandesal for breakfast. Her children have been asking her for bread but there was no store open even if she has the money to buy.
She added that her children are also attending the supervised neighborhood play (SNP) sessions being held at the temporary day care center. Supplementary feeding is also conducted at the center to ensure that kids are receiving proper nutrition aside from the regular cooked meals provided to them.
Cash for work
The DSWD has released payment for the initial 150 Cash-for-Work grantees. Among the recipients were Omar Hasan and Totoh Sakandal from Barangay Sta. Catalina.
Omar Hasan, who received P450 for his three (3) days of work, said, “Pambili ko ito ng gatas para sa anak ko (I will buy milk for my children with this).” Omar and his wife and three children with her wife left their home in Sta. Catalina on the fifth day of the crisis to keep their children out of harm’s way.
Totoh, also of Sta. Catalina said, “Nagpapasalamat po talaga ako na nasali ako sa Cash-For-Work” at may natanggap ako ngayon na para ipambili ng ibang kakailanganin (I’m really thankful I was included in the cash-for-work program. I can now buy our other needs).”
Ms. Agapita Bendoy, DSWD social worker manning the community kitchen at the grandstand said that the cash-for-work grantees rendered 4-5 days of work. They were given P210 per day, which is equivalent to 75 percent of the prevailing regional daily wage to help out in the community kitchen. According to Bendoy, women workers helped out in the cooking while the men were tasked in the washing of kitchen utensils, cooking, transporting of goods and cleaning the area.
Prayer Tents for Muslim brothers/sisters
Prayer tents were set-up at the grandstand evacuation center to cater to the spiritual needs of the Islam believers/moslem followers among the evacuees.
Salaman Imlana, who frequents the place for his daily prayers said that about 100-150 Muslim evacuees gather at the said tent during prayer time which is every 5 am, 12 noon, 3 pm, 6 pm, and 7 pm.
“Nagpapasalamat ako na nagtatag tayo ng ganitong lugar dito sa evacuation center (I am thankful that they have provided this place in the evacuation center),” Imlana concluded. ### (21 September 2013) Social Marketing Service.