COTABATO CITY – About 80,000 cloth and disposable diapers have been distributed to lactating mothers as part of the continuing humanitarian assistance to affected residents in Marawi City in southern Philippines.
The recipients are nursing mothers currently in evacuation centers as well as those staying in their relatives’ houses. Various line agencies in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and private donors from Metro Manila and Cotabato City donated the diapers.
ARMM’s Cabinet Secretary Khal Mambuay-Campong said the drive started since the first day of the Marawi siege to help parents provide diapers for their babies. “As part of the ARMM’s Crisis Management Committee, and as a mother, ito yung naisip namin na ibigay dahil gusto namin matulungan yung mga parents na hirap maghanap ng diapers for their babies dahil walang mabilihan,” Campong said.
She reiterated how important the diapers are to keep the babies clean, dry and healthy. The fifth batch of diapers was distributed on July 10, in evacuation centers in Lanao del Sur. The diapers came from the different agencies of the ARMM, the Philippine Business for Social Progress, and private donors outside the ARMM.
“Kailangan talaga namin ng diaper para sa baby ko; wala kaming pambili kaya naghihintay na lang kami na may pupunta dito sa amin at magbibigay ng diaper,” said Kuray Datu Ma-as, one of the thousands of displaced Marawi residents staying at the evacuation center in Saguriaran municipality.
Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr., ARMM’s Health Secretary said “diapers in difficult situations, such as the unexpected displacement of families, give parents a sigh of relief on easier management of their children’s wastes when the water supply is scarce and sanitary disposal poses a challenge. For the Health department, it is a better alternative that allows parents to focus on more important things while sanitary disposal is afforded for their children.”
Dr. Sinolinding said unsanitary practices could even lead to serious infections among babies. The ARMM government continues to send relief packs, hygiene kits and medical services to the affected residents of Marawi.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said as part of the government’s coordinated response to the immediate needs of internally displaced persons from Marawi and nearby areas, three regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (DRRMC) have been working together to provide relief in evacuation sites.
The regional DRRMCs responsible for the relief operations are those in ARMM, Region 12 (Soccksargen), and Region 10 (Northern Mindanao).
The ARMM serves all IDPs with a Disaster Assistance Family Access Card, including those who are homebased, in the following areas: Marawi City, 29 towns in Lanao del Sur, including Saguiaran, Marantao, and Malabang, Maguindanao and Cotabato City.
Meanwhile, the DRRMC of Region 10 serves IDPs in the following areas: Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, towns in Lanao del Norte, including Pantar, Linamon, Sultan Naga Dimaporo. The DRRMC of region 12 serves IDPs in the following areas: General Santos City, Koronadal City and towns in North Cotabato.
Displaced families who are yet to receive relief goods must ensure that they have registered at their respective Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This is to make sure that they are accounted for in the implementation of the government’s rehabilitation programs, according to Governor Hataman.
The ARMM has distributed a total of 54,123 relief packs since the start of its operations. Each relief pack consists of 6 kilograms of rice, 4 tins of sardines, 4 tins of corned beef, 6 sachets of 3-in-1 coffee, and 6 sachets of chocolate drink. Just recently, an additional 2,500 food packs were turned over to the local governments of Lanao del Sur, Marawi City and the town of Saguiaran. A single food pack is intended to meet the food requirements of a family of four for at least two weeks.
The ARMM government has been working with local government units to ensure that the assistance will reach the beneficiaries as quickly as possible, the governor said. (Bureau of Public Information)
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