ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan 6 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-9 with its field offices (FO), vows to continue their dedication, honest service, and uninterrupted assistance to the affected Local Government Units (LGUs) and citizens during disasters or calamities in Zamboanga Peninsula and neighboring provinces in 2023.

DSWD-9 made this promise as they responded quickly and distributed aid to the fire victims in Zamboanga City and to the flooding victims in the region, on the last days of 2022.

About 100 kitchen kits, drinking water, and edibles such as biscuits and instant noodles worth P83,450.00 and donated hygiene kits from the DSWD Central Office were distributed by the FO for the affected families of the fire incident who stayed at the evacuation center in Sta. Maria Elementary School Gymnasium.

As an initial response, the local government of Zamboanga and various agencies also distributed food packs and non-food items for the victims.

Likewise, the agency’s staff also quickly responded and headed to the Province of Basilan to deliver Family Food Packs for the year-end flood victims. The cities of Isabela and Lamitan in Basilan are some of the areas that were severely affected by the flooding caused by the Shear Line in Mindanao that brought heavy rain since Christmas weekend.

Even at the end of 2022, the DSWD-9 has readied available resources for disasters and calamities and prepositioned goods in LGUs such as family food packs, family kits, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, sleeping kits, and modular tents. The office also has a trained quick response team and a standby Quick Response Fund (QRF) of Php 5,000,000.00. (EDT/CCP/PIA9 with photos from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-9)

The DSWD Field Office-9 has provided a total of 4,591 Family Food Packs worth P2,508,935.59 to the Municipality of Manuel Roxas, Polanco, and Katipunan in Zamboanga del Norte; Zamboanga City and Basilan Province. The FO also coordinated with other affected LGUs to ensure that all families are accounted for and their needs are met.

Even at the end of 2022, the DSWD-9 has readied available resources for disasters and calamities and prepositioned goods in LGUs such as family food packs, family kits, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, sleeping kits, and modular tents. The office also has a trained quick response team and a standby Quick Response Fund (QRF) of Php 5,000,000.00. (RVC/EDT/CCP/PIA9 with photos from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-9)