TANDAG CITY – Through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga extended assistance to 130 former rebels (FRs in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur on September 15.

These FRs are also beneficiaries of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) who were endorsed by the Provincial Government of Surigao del Sur.

Each beneficiary received financial assistance totaling to PHP 10,000. In addition, DSWD also distributed two (2) family food packs, one (1) hygiene kit, and one (1) sleeping kit per returnee. Further, the distribution of assistance was also per family-basis.

Out of the 130 beneficiaries, 126 hails from Surigao del Sur Province while four (4) of them are residents of the Agusan del Sur Province.

DSWD Field Office Caraga Officer-in-Charge Ramel Jamen and Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel personally awarded the assistance to the beneficiaries. DSWD Protective Services Division Chief Jessie Catherine Aranas and Crisis Intervention Unit Head Melanie Juan also took part in the activity and led the distribution of assistance.

Other than DSWD, national government agencies such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also provided assistance to the FRs.

DSWD, as one of the members of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) under the Executive Order 70, series of 2018, is tasked to help the FRs to reintegrate in their respective communities by providing them with assistance that can address their immediate needs.

Besides AICS, the DSWD has also other immediate interventions for the FRs such as temporary shelter and protective services for FRs and their families. #