DSWD Opens To Help Kin Of Slain Drug Suspects

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has expressed willingness to help the families of those drug personalities killed in illegal drug operations.

This, after they showed concern on the possible trauma that can be experienced by families and children who witnessed the death of their loved ones in drug operations.

“We have trained social workers and psychologists to help provide counseling and necessary foster care for the children who were able to witness the death of their parent or any relative,” DSWD Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera, in charge of the department’s Protective Services Program (PSP) said.

“However, it is still the responsibility of local social welfare development officers, under local government units, to be the first responders and to provide immediate comfort to the children. They may refer to us once their resources are not enough,” Cabrera further said.

The DSWD is willing to provide assistance to affected children who has no relative or custodian and who might become orphaned because of the anti-drug drive.

The office is ready to take them into proper custody by providing temporary care and shelter in DSWD-run centers and institutions or under community-based care support through foster care.

Aside from the families of slain drug suspects, Cabrera said they could also provide assistance to drug surrenderees, through PSP such as the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Program.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Program can be tapped to support the needs of the drug surrenderees' families.

“We offer livelihood and protective support for the families whose head of households were slain and for orphaned children, the DSWD provides educational support so that they will not be forced to become out-of-school youth,” Cabrera said.

Public and private institutions also provide training programs that will help enhance the skills of its participants to become self-sustaining and productive citizens, based on the coverage of the SLP with the help of the DSWD partners.

Immediate financial assistance can also be provided by the department to affected families through its Crisis Intervention Unit, which offers burial, medical, education and transportation assistance.

These programs are not only limited to affected families of the country's massive anti-drugs campaign but it could also be availed of by qualified poor families in crisis situation, Cabrera emphasized.

Source: Philippine Star