Marawi crisis evacuees to get one-time cash aid: DSWD

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 10): Marawi crisis evacuees to get one-time cash aid: DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has begun processing a one-time PHP1,000 cash assistance for each family displaced by the ongoing hostilities in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur.

According to a department news release, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said the assistance will be provided under the DSWD Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

“Most of our fellow citizens from Marawi are Muslims. We are now processing to provide them cash assistance because it is Ramadan. They can use it to buy fruits because they are breaking their fast,” Taguiwalo said during a radio interview.

She noted that representatives from Lanao suggested the provision of the cash assistance to help Muslim evacuees who are observing the fasting month of Ramadan despite being in evacuation centers.

Taguiwalo said this is only a one-time cash aid, as her department continues to provide the evacuees food.

The DSWD is also preparing the provision of additional assistance, such as tents, once the evacuees return to Marawi, the social welfare chief said.

According to the department, as of last Thursday, the armed conflict has displaced a total of 50,327 families or 245,341 persons in 27 barangays in Marawi City and 13 barangays in Marantao, Lanao del Sur.

Of the figure, 4,244 families or 20,627 individuals are staying in 63 evacuation centers, while 44,999 families or 219,339 persons are with relatives or friends in Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and the Negros islands.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994608