Social welfare dept. aids citizens affected by armed clashes in Lanao del Sur

MANILA -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Monday it has extended assistance to civilians caught in the crossfire between fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and supposed residents of Barangay Bualan, Balindong in Lanao del Sur.The clash started over the weekend and has resulted in more families being forced to flee the encounter area and find safety in neighboring villages.The DSWD field office in the Soccsksargen region has reported that as of 8 a.m. Monday, some 1,300 families consisting of 6,500 individuals from barangays Bualan, Dibarosan, Abaga, Barit, Bubong-Cadapaan and Lati have been affected by the firefight.In response to the situation, the social welfare office will provide 1,500 family food packs.It also coordinated with the municipal social welfare office of Balindong for updates on the incident, as well as for the provision of additional relief supplies for the affected families.Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said that her department will exert its best effort to work hand in hand with other government agencies to ensure that the safety and the food needs of the affected families are addressed. The causes of armed conflict in many parts of the country are myriad, but almost all of them, in one way or another, connect to the problems of deep-seated poverty and social injustice, said Taguiwalo.She added that as they provide for the emergency needs of the citizens affected by armed conflict, they do not neglect to address the root causes of the conflict. On the part of the DSWD and the Duterte administration, we are doing our best to help the poor in Mindanao and to provide the people means of livelihood and improved nutrition for the children, she said.Recognizing that efforts are not enough, she cited the need to collaborate and work together in supporting other comprehensive efforts to control and end poverty. These efforts should begin with the implementation of a genuine agrarian reform program in Mindanao, she said.