CEBU, Philippines – Survivors and bereaved families of those who were killed in what was called as the worst traffic accident this year recently attended the stress debriefing sessions of the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The stress debriefing sessions were held last April 15 to 16 in Carcar City, San Fernando, Naga City and Talisay City where most of the passengers of the minibus and the10-wheeler van hauler came from.
Aside from the initial release of family food packs and assistance to the victims and their families, the DSWD will also be releasing financial assistance of P3,000 each for the purchase of medicine for the injured and the same amount to purchase food for the bereaved families.
There will also be six-month subsidies for transportation, assistive devices such as crutches, and milk for infants left behind by those who died in the collision.
The Cebu Provincial Government also provided each family of the victims financial assistance worth P5,000 along with relief goods.
Each of Cebu First District Congressman Eduardo Gullas and Board Member Esteban Daan also extended P5,000 per family as cash assistance along with food packs.
The payments on hospitalization, medicines and doctors for the victims, as well as payments for coffins, funeral services, cemetery expenses and church fees for the casualties will be covered by the bus company’s insurance.
Meanwhile, fire victims of barangays Sta. Cruz and San Antonio in Cebu City received an initial P75, 000 from the office of Cebu City north district Rep. Raul del Mar through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), a day after the incident.
Each of the 75 families received P1, 000 to augment the aid extended by the Cebu City government and partner non- government organization (NGOs), which provided the victims a week’s worth of food supplies including kitchen utensils and other bedding supplies and materials.
Aside from the cash aide, DSWD also provided family packs containing food items and used clothing amounting to P24, 000 to the initial 96 fire victims.
Last April 10, a fire hit the two neighboring barangays of Sta. Cruz and San Antonio, destroying at least houses and affecting hundreds of individuals. — Quennie Rose P. Olaño and Karen Grace H. Yasi/WAB (THE FREEMAN)