Social welfare dept aids victims of fire in Pinyahan, Quezon City
MANILA, Dec. 28 (PNA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) office in the National Capital Region has been coordinating with the Quezon City government to determine the needs of the estimated 1,000 families affected by the fire that razed houses along NIA Road in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City on Tuesday evening.
Officer-in-charge of the DSWD-NCR Disaster Response Section, Benjie Barbosa, said Wednesday their field office will initially provide 2,000 family food packs (FFPs). The families have been taken to an evacuation center while the Quezon City government is determining the exact number of affected individuals.
Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo has reiterated that local government units (LGUs) are the first responders during disasters, both natural and man-made. She however noted that her department and its field offices are on hand to help the LGUs.
Taguiwalo said that the urgency of the situation being faced by the displaced urban poor community residents should not be overlooked.
“We cannot stop at giving the fire survivors relief boxes or temporary shelter in evacuation centers. We hope that Quezon City officials would work with the DSWD and other national government agencies to help the survivors get access to other services and assist them to either find new homes in QC, where many of them hold jobs and are considered bona fide voters; or to return to the provinces if they wish to start life afresh there,” she said.
Taguiwalo also appealed to the public to help the survivors and give what they can — clothes, water, food, and vitamins for the children. (PNA)
