DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao del Norte — To ease the trauma and pain caused by tropical storm Paeng to internally displaced children at this town’s Barangay Kusiong – the storm’s ground zero in the region, Bangsamoro Government conducted an outreach activity Friday, Nov. 11.
Led by the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), the activity was also in line with this year’s celebration of the National Children’s Month.
The celebration’s theme in BARMM is “Bangon Batang Bangsamoro”, which, according to the MSSD, “encapsulates and amplifies the efforts of the Bangsamoro Government’s interventions to address the rights of the child on development, protection, survival, and participation, with a special focus on children who bore the brunt of Typhoon Paeng.”
Children aged 3-15 years who were staying at evacuation centers in the area were treated to a storytelling activity, parlor games and talent show, and Mental Health Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activity. They were also provided with toys, school supplies, and hygiene kits.
“Yung mga bata, malaki yung ating pag-asa na ibinibigay sa kanila na maging active, productive, and healthy citizens […] gusto po natin matingnan yung kanilang kalagayan at mabigyan ng kung ano mang intervention ang kakayanin na maibigay sa kanila,” said MSSD Minister Raissa Jajurie.
The Ministry of Health also joined the activity by bringing its diagnostic mobile clinic, while the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority provided meals for the children.
“Sobrang masaya po ako na nakatanggap ang anak ko nitong mga gamit at nagpapasalamat po ako sa MSSD at sa lahat ng tumulong ngayon, ” said Jemma Laganding, 38, one of the IDPs.
Members of the Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) and Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (RJJWC), local government unit of DOS, Philippine Red Cross, and other humanitarian groups also supported the activity.
Minister Jajurie said MSSD will conduct similar activity to different orphanages in Cotabato City, Special Geographic Area, and other provinces. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
