MARAWI CITY -- The Bangsamoro Government's Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) assisted families affected by the fire in Brgy. Dilausan, Balindong town.

The MSSD distributed emergency assistance comprised of food and non-food items to 42 families displaced by a fire incident on February 27.

"In the initial assessment conducted by MSSD, together with Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), 17 houses were completely damaged while five (5) houses were partially damaged," said Najah B. Guinar, Disaster Risk Reduction in Emergency Assistance Program (DRREAP) focal of MSSD Lanao del Sur-1.

Accordingly, the incident displaced 156 individuals, who immediately evacuated to their nearby relatives. Each of the 32 families with totally damaged houses received relief goods comprised of food and non-food items, such as 25-kilogram rice, food packs, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, dignity and protection kits, cooking kits, and tarpaulin sheets.

The remaining 10 households with partially damaged houses received 25-kilogram rice and food packs. The local government unit of Balindong also provided P3,000 each to all the fire-affected families.

Aside from the provision of relief goods, MSSD will also conduct further assessment and validation to determine the additional interventions that the affected families might need in light of the aftermath of the incident.

“We will continue monitoring the situations of the affected families and come back to conduct further assessment,” said Haneyah Lucman, Balindong’s Municipal Social Welfare Officer.

The families will also receive financial assistance through the Bangsamoro Critical Assistance for Indigents in Response to Emergency Situations (B-CARES) Program and referred to the DRREAP for Emergency Shelter Assistance.

Two household heads will also be referred to the Bangsamoro Sagip Kabuhayan (BSK) Program to help them restart their livelihood.

Dibolawan Panacal, a senior citizen and internally displaced person from the 2017 Marawi Siege, had her house damaged by the tragedy.

"Sanggibo a salamat sa MSSD ago BARMM sa giyaya kiyapanabangi niyo r'kami. A so sak'n non a lok's iyo na apiya so salad na da miniliyo ak'n (We are very thankful to MSSD and BARMM for all the assistance we received here. I am a senior citizen so I was not able to save my things, not even a peso)," Panacal said. (BIO/PIA Lanao del Sur)