Surigao del Sur – After the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga received a request letter from the local government unit (LGU) of the municipality of Marihatag last October 5, 2015, the agency right then provided a total of 220 family food packs to the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in the town.

The distributed food packs amount to Php92,030.40 and each contain six (6) kilos of rice, eight (8) pieces of noodles, eight (8) canned goods, and eight (8) pieces of 3-in-1 coffee.

DSWD-Caraga’s social welfare and development (SWAD) team and the Municipal Action Team (MAT) are in close coordination with the local social welfare and development office (LSWDO) and the local disaster risk reduction and management committee (LDRRMC) for the updates on the status of the said IDPs.

It was announced that some 195 families or 916 individuals from Brgy.Mahaba, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur, evacuated their homes on October 1, 2015 after hearing continuous gunshots.

As per report from the MSWDO of Marihatag, 84 families or 415 individuals have already returned to their respective residences.

To date, 111 families or 509 families are still staying at Marihatag Gymnasium. These families are from barangay Mahaba of the said municipality.

Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli assured the LGUs which are affected by the civil unrest that the Field Office has prepositioned goods which are on stand by and ready for distribution should any crisis or disaster occur.

“The Department is always ready anytime augmentation is needed by the LGUs,” said Brigoli. ###(Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)