Marawi evacuees get help in Tagum City

TAGUM City -- Residents who were displaced by clashes between the government troops and armed militants in Marawi City received relief packs distributed by the Local Government of Tagum City.

A total of 254 Marawi evacuees received the food bundles handed out by the city government in the recently conducted relief-distribution program spearheaded by the Values Enhancement Program Unit (VEPU) at the city’s Cultural Pavilion.

Mayor Allan Rellon, himself, led the distribution of the relief packs that consist of five kilos of rice, 10 canned goods, 30 packs of instant noodles and other Halal-certified groceries.

Through the profiling and master listing conducted by the City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO), the initial number of evacuees who moved here were identified. The process, which is still ongoing, is made possible through the assistance of the barangay and purok officials and the 71st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

The CSWDO confirmed that after the profiling, the evacuees who were identified to be suffering with trauma or physical damages will go through a stress debriefing process or other interventions necessary for their rehabilitation.

The relief goods were gathered through the city-wide donation drive initiated by One Tagumenyo Youth Movement last month, in partnership with the City Government of Tagum. Schools, Muslim communities, the army, and some private and business entities were among the groups who donated supplies and extended their support during the month-long drive.

Other donations were also collected through the cycles of Values Enhancement Seminar conducted to different sectors by VEPU under the leadership of Lowie Selario, Executive Assistant II.

The recipients of the relief assistance will still benefit the next batch of goods to be distributed by the city government together with the additional identified evacuees. Other than food provisions, the displaced residents will also receive clothing, Hijab, blankets, and sanitary kits, among others. Roy Banias/CIO Tagum