KORONADAL CITY — The central government will provide emergency assistance to dozens of families who lost their homes in a fire incident over the weekend in General Santos City, according to a senior official of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Monday. 

Cezario Joel Espejo, DSWD-12 regional director, said the agency is scheduled to distribute on Wednesday family food packs and P5,000 cash each to 65 families affected by the fire that hit residential areas in Purok Sta. Cruz, Barangay Dadiangas West around 1:30 p.m. on October 26. 

Dir. Espejo said social workers from the city government also facilitated the debriefing and profiling of the affected residents.

“I know what these people are experiencing right now is not easy that’s why we are here to help them ease their problem,” Dir. Espejo said.

According to him, he instructed Bonifacio Selma, assistant regional director for operation and Nairah Aratuc, head of DSWD Field Office XII protective services division, to personally oversee the distribution of assistance. (Jeoffrey Maitem / DSWD)