Cordillera Administrative Region– As of 12 January 2016, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here has accounted Php 2,649,866.90 worth of assistance provided to the families of Cordilleran Special Action Force (SAF) members involved in the Mamasapano incident in January 2015.
DSWD-CAR Regional Director Janet P. Armas said that the amount covers the cash, livelihood, burial, medical, and educational assistance given to the families of the 14 Cordilleran SAF heroes.
“One year since the incident happened, we are continuously providing support to the families left by our Cordilleran SAF heroes. But more than the financial stability, we are also looking forward to the full recovery of the families”, Dir. Armas shared.
Aside from the financial assistance, the Department has provided psychosocial interventions to the family members which involve stress de-briefing and counseling sessions.
“Our social workers and project development officers (PDOs) are working together to look after the welfare of the families. We are trying our very best to fill in the loss though we acknowledge that no amount of assistance will be able to replace the lives of their departed loved ones. Though we are hoping that our assistance has helped them get back on their feet”, Dir. Armas added.
On December 2015, first tranche of the livelihood assistance was released to the families of 13 SAF members. They are now expected to implement their proposed livelihood projects.
“The livelihood projects were not only limited to the wives, but we have also provided livelihood to their parents, siblings or cousins. Our field PDOs are closely monitoring them to ensure that their proposed projects will be properly implemented”, Dir. Armas shared.
The Department is also continuously preparing the release of the livelihood assistance for the families of Police Chief Inspector Gednat Tabdi and Cyrus Anniban.
“It is not always easy, but we will continue to work and pray with the families to create a better cause from the sacrifice that our Cordilleran brothers made”, Dir. Armas said. # DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
