By Ellalyn de Vera-Ruiz
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista has instructed its field office in Western Visayas to conduct psychosocial intervention to the survivors and bereaved families of the Guimaras sea tragedy.
President Rodrigo Duterter (right) and DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista (left) visit the wake of 13 casualties of the Guimaras tragedy. Also in photo: Presidential Asst. Michael Diño (from left), Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, and Senator Bong Go. (Photo
courtesy of dswd.gov.ph)
The intervention will include the conduct of critical incident stress debriefing, which allows survivors and bereaved families to process and reflect on what has happened to them.
It helps them cope with their traumatic experiences by talking about the emotions they are going through.
Presently, DSWD-Western Visayas and Department of Health are already discussing the schedule for the conduct of the psychosocial support sessions.
So far, DSWD has already released ₱1.88 million worth of relief assistance to the survivors and families of those who passed on.
The amount consisted of ₱620,000 burial assistance at ₱20,000 per bereaved family; ₱650,000 financial assistance at ₱10,000 each for the 65 survivors; and ₱17,356-worth of non-food items such as blankets, towels, malong, plastic mats, and used clothing.
The field office also provided ₱P595,080 worth of family food packs to the crew of the pumpboats who were affected by the travel ban imposed in Guimaras.
DSWD social workers are also assessing the survivors and families of victims for possible provision of livelihood assistance through the Department’s sustainable livelihood program. The Department vowed to continue to work with the concerned local government units to determine other appropriate services for the survivors and the victims’ families.