ZAMBOANGA CITY – In the spirit of bayanihan, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Special Operations Task Force 511.2 U.S. Marine Corps spearheaded a Clean-Up Drive to rehabilitate the areas affected by flood brought about by the tropical storm, Paeng.

The team commenced the activity in Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City in coordination with the barangay local government unit headed by the Barangay Chairperson, Hon. Los Eli Angeles on Sunday.

Almost a hundred volunteers coming from the Armed Forces of the Philippines including the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Marines, personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard, fraternity groups such as the Alpha Kappa Rho, Tau Gamma Phi, and various civic organizations, The Fraternal Order of Eagles and the JCI Zamboangueña Chapter participated in the said activity.

“This is the start of a series of clean up (activities) for those barangays (that were) highly affected by flood,” Auxiliary Commander Francis H. Arroyo of the Philippine Coastguard Auxiliary said.

Approximately 100 families at the riverside area were able to benefit from this clean up activity. The team, through the civic organizations, also distributed food and water for the residents of the said barangay.

The next leg of the clean up drive is set on November 20, 2022 at Caridad Murga Drive, Barangay Tumaga, Zamboanga City.

The trio group initiators (DSWD, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, US Task Force) call for volunteers especially for the succeeding schedule of activities. Interested volunteers may express intention and coordinate with the team through the barangay chairperson of Tumaga, Jacky Lim.