MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE – A team from the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) visited and assessed on July 29 the internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently housed at an evacuation site in Barangay Bugasan Sur of Matanog Municipality.
MSSD said the flash floods caused by heavy rainfall in July led to the evacuation of 1,177 families to the municipal hall grounds. This disaster resulted in casualties and significant losses in livelihood and housing.
Led by Director General Atty. Mohammad Muktadir Estrella and Maguindanao Provincial Social Welfare Officer Hadja Emma Ali, the team inspected the IDPs’ tents, assessed their living conditions, livelihood needs, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, and the overall state of the evacuation site.
Following the site visit, the MSSD team held a debriefing session at the regional office to review the assessment findings and discuss recommended further social interventions.
Prior to the on-site assessment, the MSSD delegation met with local government officials, including Mayor Zohria Bansil-Guro and Vice Mayor Sanaira Ali-Imam, to discuss the Ministry’s programs and services. These include emergency responses during disasters and other necessary interventions for the IDPs.
Mayor Guro expressed gratitude, saying, “MSSD is one of the agencies that has been here from the very first day of the calamity. We are thankful to the Bangsamoro Government for making us feel that we are not alone in this challenging time.”
On the other hand, DG Estrella highlighted the importance of prepositioning welfare goods for disaster response. “The ministry will strengthen its commitment to uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro, prioritize their safety and welfare, and learn valuable lessons from calamity responses,” he stated. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO with reports from MSSD)
