Sarangani: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) social workers are conducting psychosocial activities for children, women, and other vulnerable sectors affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani province on June 8.
According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized the importance of not only providing food and water assistance but also delivering psychosocial support to help affected families overcome the trauma of the earthquake. Gatchalian noted that in Glan, Sarangani, DSWD Field Office 12 and partner agencies held child-friendly activities for 20 child-evacuees, aiming to help them process their emotions, reduce stress, and regain peace of mind amid their experiences.
As of June 18, the DSWD's Angels in Red Vests have served a total of 168 beneficiaries within child-friendly spaces, providing psychological first aid to 74 individuals through play therapy, art sessions, and other interactive activities. Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group reported that Mindanao Field Offices are continuously conducting Camp Coordination and Camp Management to ensure that internally displaced persons, particularly children and women, remain comfortable and safe inside evacuation centers.
Dumlao also highlighted the directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., stating that the DSWD must provide all basic needs of beneficiaries, especially children, women, and the elderly, including monitoring by social workers and conducting mini programs like child-friendly activities.
The Disaster Response Operations Monitoring, Information, and Communication's 6 a.m. report indicates that the DSWD has distributed 381,998 family food packs, 10,664 non-food items, and 10,364 ready-to-eat food packs, totaling PHP270.24 million in humanitarian aid. Additionally, four Mobile Command Centers, five mobile kitchens, water tanks, and filtration systems have been deployed to support disaster response operations.
Currently, the total displaced population stands at 86,006 individuals (21,876 families), with 22,655 individuals (5,203 families) taking shelter in 48 designated evacuation centers across Mindanao, while the remaining 63,351 individuals (16,673 families) have opted to stay with relatives or friends. Dumlao assured that the DSWD is committed to providing continuous support to internally displaced families and individuals, coordinating with local government units to ensure sustained and appropriate assistance.
