Caraga – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga provided augmentation support on August 15, 2016 to the 56 displaced lumad families in the municipality of Talacogon, province of Agusan del Sur.
The agency augmented a total of 112 family food packs amounting to Php45,955.84. Each food pack contains six (6) kilos of rice, eight (8) tins of canned goods, and 6 sachets of 3-in-1 coffee.
Prior to the augmentation support, the local government unit of Talacogon has already provided them 112 food packs amounting to Php31,360 and containing 5 kilos of rice, 6 corned beef, and 6 pieces of coffee.
As reported, these 56 lumads are from Purok 8, Barangay Zillovia in the mentioned municipality. According to the reports, they evacuated from their homes on August 4, 2016 at one o’clock in the afternoon due to the presence of military, the 26IB 4ID who conducted Community-Based Management Information System (CBMIS) survey, interview and consultation to the residents for the proposed road infrastructure and water system project in the area.
As per information from Richard Coguit, Brgy Chairman of Brgy. Zillovia thru Michael Sabacajan, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Management Officer, other evacuees claimed that they are afraid because the NPA allegedly told them to evacuate the area because the military will kill them.
As of date, they are temporarily sheltering at Brgy. Zillovia gymnasium.
DSWD-Caraga Regional Director Minda Brigoli assured that the agency’s field staff composed of Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) team and Municipal Action Team (MAT) are closely monitoring and continuously coordinating with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Talacogon for any development on the welfare of the said lumad families.
“Dili lalim ang magpuyo sa evacuation center, lahi ra sa comfort nga mahatag kung magpuyo sa kaugalingong panimalay (It’s not easy to stay in the evacuation center and the comfort is far different when you are in your own house),” said Brigoli.
“Para makuhaan ang kalisod nga nasinati sa atong mga kaigsuonan nga anaa karon sa gymnasium nagpuyo, kita sa DSWD padayon nga magtutok sa ilang kahimtang ug posibleng panginahanglanon aron maka-hatag kita ug saktong ayuda kanila (To lessen the burden experienced by our lumad brothers and sisters who are currently staying at the gymnasium, we in DSWD, are continuously monitoring their condition and status for possible needs so that we will be able to provide appropriate assistance),” she added. ### (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)
