DSWD extends help to earthquake victims

QUAKE-HIT residents in the towns of Magsaysay and Bansalan in Davao del Sur received assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office XI.

DSWD reported it has released a total of 1,355 family food packs and 330 sleeping kits to the families affected by the magnitude 6.3 tremor struck about 22 kilometers southeast of Tulunan, North Cotabato at 7:37 p.m. on Oct. 16.

DSWD has also provided medical assistance to nine injured individuals amounting to P46,000. Also, it provided burial assistance to the families of the three reported casualties in the province worth P30,000.

“(We) have deployed an augmentation team to conduct relief operations

and rapid assessment on the damages brought by the earthquake and its aftershocks,” said Erna Sampiano, DSWD XI disaster response chief.

DSWD XI reports to have a total stockpile of food and non-food items, and standby funds amounting to P14 million ready for distribution to the affected areas.

Both Magsaysay and Bansalan were declared under state of calamity after the said quake which severely damaged the said towns.

OUTGOING city police director Col. Alexander Tagum shakes hand with his successor, Col. Kirby John Kraft, as Police Regional Office acting director Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal looks on during the turnover ceremony inside Camp Capt. Domingo Leonor along San Pedro Street on Friday. BING GONZALES