THE regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Davao and the Davao City Government put a collaborative effort in providing immediate assistance to the victims of the deadly bomb explosion on Friday and their relatives through a stress debriefing.

This was shared by DSWD director Mercedita Jabagat in a press statement issued on Saturday, a day after the incident.

Jabagat said the agency has started to extend helping hands to the families of the victims, as social workers conducted hospital and funeral home visits to monitor their situation.

“We will also provide additional financial assistance to affected families for medical and burial expenses and in due time, we shall conduct psychosocial intervention to affected families,” Jabagat said.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has already assured the families of the victims to shoulder their needs in terms hospitalization, burial, funeral and day to day expenses through its City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO).

Based on the report of CSSDO, they have recorded 14 dead and 67 injured due to the powerful explosion.

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo expressed her deepest sympathies for the victims of the bombing and affirmed that the department through its field office in the region will provide the necessary actions to assist the families.

Taguiwalo also urged the Filipinos to show and prove their resilience against tragedies and attacks against our collective safety and security.

“We must not be divided in our response against attacks such as this and unite in the call for justice for the victims and survivors of the Abu Sayyaf’s terrorism. We must be united in condemning and opposing all efforts and attempts to undermine the rights, safety and security of the Filipino people,” Taguiwalo said. (SSD)