The Department of Social Welfare and Development has started extending assistance to wounded soldiers in the military operations that are being conducted in some parts of Sulu and Basilan against the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, the department has been able to provide financial, medical and burial assistance to six wounded and two killed soldiers with the total amount of 45,000 pesos.

Aside from the said monetary aid, DSWD has also been conducting hospital visits and counseling/ stress debriefing to the families of these soldiers.

DSWD is also making some necessary assessment on what other suitable services that can be provided to the dependents, such as educational, livelihood, and employment opportunities through skills training.

Meanwhile, the DSWD field office 9 has also been in constant coordination with Provincial Social Welfare and Development Offices of Sulu and Basilan with regards to the relief operations done in some villages and municipalities where evacuees are sheltered temporarily.

Last September 6, the department sent 5,000 family food packs worth P1,800,000.00 for over 4,000 IDPs. As of September 20, 2016, there are already 4,456 families served by DSWD and PLGU. Currently, the available standby funds and stockpile of relief goods is amounting to P1,003,337,662.10###