ILOILO CITY, Aug. 14 (PIA) -- The regional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Western Visayas will be providing psychosocial intervention to survivors and families of the casualties of the sea tragedy that took place in the waters of Iloilo and Guimaras on August 3, 2019.

DSWD 6 information officer May Rago - Castillo said one of the directives of Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista, when he joined President Rodrigo Duterte in his wake visit on Wednesday, August 7, at Gegato Abecia Funeral Homes here, is to provide psychosocial support to the families of victims and survivors.

Castillo said Bautista mentioned to give necessary intervention to the family of Marcelino Java, Jr. from Mandurriao, Iloilo City who lost his wife and grandchildren Jhaeron Mars 13, and Jen Llyod, 9. Java's other granchildren, Jan Christian, survived the tragedy and the other one was hospitalized.

Aside from the pyschosocial support, Castillo said DSWD 6 has released some P1.88 million worth of assistance to affected individuals and families of the Saturday sea mishap involving the sinking of three motorboats in separate incidents that claimed 31 lives.

Castillo said the assistance covered P620,000 burial assistance at P20,000 each for the casualties; P650,000 financial assistance at P10,000 each for 65 survivors; and P17,356 worth of non-food items such as blankets, towels, malong, plastic mats and used clothing.

Currently, social workers and project development officers of DSWD 6 are profiling and assessing the needs of the affected crew of pumpboats from the towns of Jordan and Buenavista, Guimaras and Iloilo City after boat trips going to Guimaras - Iloilo and vice versa were suspended since Saturday.

Castillo said DSWD 6 has provided 1,653 family food packs amounting to P595,080 to affected crew, as of August 9. The food packs contained canned goods and rice.

She added that they are looking into implementing two types of assistance to affected crew. One is for their immediate needs such as provision of education, medical and transportation assistance.

The other is possible alternative livelihood such as the granting of Sustainable Livelihood Program assistance to those who are eligible.

Castillo said the agency continues to coordinate with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in responding to the needs of both the survivors and the families of those who died. (JBG/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)