Fire victims gather at the Bongao gymnasium in Tawi-Tawi to receive their financial assistance from the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) and the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU). (Photo courtesy of MSSD)
COTABATO CITY— Families who were displaced by the massive fire that transpired at Barangay Poblacion in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi on Sept. 7 will be able to rebuild their homes through the cash assistance given by the Bangsamoro regional and provincial governments.
On Sept.12, a total of 371 households affected by the fire each received P23,000 cash assistance from the Ministry of Social Services and Development’s (MSSD) Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) program and another P29,000 from the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Tawi-Tawi.
ESA is one of the MSSD’s social protection programs under the Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD) that focuses on rehabilitating and reconstructing the homes of indigent families affected by both natural and human-induced disasters.
Based on MSSD’s assessment, approximately 1,000 families were displaced by the fire, most of them are staying at Salamat Elementary School and Tawi-Tawi School of Fisheries, while some are with their relatives.
“Namigay din tayo ng shelter assistance, pinagsabay ito sa pinamigay ng PLGU kasi ang rationale nito pagbuo ang pera makapatayo sila agad ng bahay,” said MSSD Provincial Social Welfare Officer Belinda Adil.
A day after the fire incident, on Sept. 8, MSSD Provincial Office immediately delivered relief assistance to the victims such as 10-kilo sacks of rice and canned goods to supplement their basic necessities. Meanwhile on Sept. 10, the victims were also given P2,000 emergency cash aid, 25-kilo sack of rice, canned goods, and 15-meter tarpaulin.
On Sept. 11, MSSD dispatched additional supply of food and non-food items to the fire victims, which included 255 sets of hygiene, dignity, and sleeping kits, and 3,636 family food packs. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
