A one-stop-shop processing center in Taganak, Tawi-Tawi has been established by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to facilitate the issuance of legal documents for undocumented Filipinos, according to Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman.
“This will ensure that they are not illegal entrants and will entitle them to avail of legal employment when they go back to Sabah,” Secretary Soliman explained.
As of March 17, a total of 1,026 families composed of 2,818 individuals from Sabah have arrived in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu. Of the total returnees, 450 families with 1,162 persons landed in Tawi-tawi while 576 families with 1,656 persons docked at Sulu. All the returnees were provided with food packs and transportation assistance to enable them to return to their respective hometowns.
Secretary Soliman said that the five evacuation centers that were set-up in Sulu and Tawi-tawi since the start of the conflict continue to remain open to receive and provide counselling and debriefing services to other Filipinos who might still arrive.
More than P7.6 million worth of relief goods were sent by the DSWD to augment the resources of the local government units of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. In Sulu, the relief goods sent were 1,500 sacks of NFA Rice, 575 boxes of Sardines, 80 boxes of Mineral water, 285 boxes of Corned beef, 232 boxes of Milk, 1,500 -Family Food Packs. In Sulu, 1,150 sacks of NFA Rice, 575 boxes of Sardines, 81 boxes of Mineral water, 300 boxes Corned beef, 232 boxes of Milk, 1,500 -Family Food Packs.
For Filipinos who no longer wish to return to Sabah, the DSWD, in coordination with the provincial governments of Tawi-Tawi and Sulu, will provide core shelters. The DSWD will provide the funds for the houses and the provincial governments will assist in identifying the land that can be used.
Likewise, a cash for work program will be implemented to benefit the displaced Filipinos. For the medium term, livelihood will be provided to those who no longer want to go back to Sabah. This will be in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and Natural Resources. [DSWD]
0 Comments
Oldest