ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development – Field Office IX in partnership with National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) distributed hygiene kits for indigenous cultural community (ICC) /indigenouss people (IP) of Barangay Kasanyangan today August 27, 2020.

The said kits were requested by NCIP to extend assistance to ICC/IPA, exclusively to the badjao community affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.

A total of 851 qualifed beneficiaries who are non- Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries were comprised of badjaos from – Asinan, Balevista, Bamboo House, Dump Site, Dustone Drive, Kasalamatan, Loop, Lulua Subdivision, Paniran, Padios Village, SM Subdivisionand Tungko Hanapi Drive – Barangay Kasanyangan.In attendance were DSWD personnel and representatives from NCIP along with key staff from barangay Kasanyangan and selected Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) from the community. Representatives from the city council and city government were also present during the conduct of the activity which was held inside the Barangay Hall.

Engr. George Jocutan, Officer-in-Charge of NCIP, Zamboanga City Office commended the efforts of DSWD in extending relief assistance in the form of hygiene kits. He added, “The assistance from the DSWD is only exclusive for the badjao’s because of most of them have no livelihood to begin with. I only hope that the beneficiaries won’t resort in exchanging the hygiene kits for money. They must be grateful to receive this and use the contents of the kits to prevent the transmission of COVID 19 within their household and community. It is very crucial they protect themselves at this moment as the number of COVID 19 positive cases in the city never cease to declined“.

The DSWD FO-IX thru its Disaster Response Management Division continues is relief assistance despite the imposed lockdown of the regional office. Yesterday, the first batch hygiene kits were distributed in Basilan Province. Other batch of hygiene kits are scheduled for distribution to other areas in Region IX in the succeeding days.