The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Friday it has delivered relief assistance to 98 families or 398 individuals displaced following the recent clash between the military and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Ifugao.
They were provided with 500 food packs, 127 mats, 105 blankets, and 60 dignity kits on top of the used clothes and cash donations extended by other municipalities and community leaders in the province.
The DSWD said there are currently five evacuation centers accommodating civilians who fled from the conflict zone.
These are mostly public schools and day care centers found in enclaves near Namal, Asipulo where the clash happened.
According to DSWD, a senior citizen who is yet to be identified has died from the incident. “His body has since been secured and now lies in state in one of the evacuation centers,” the department said in a press statement.
In light of this development, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo reiterated her earnest call on the government to resume the formal peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
“Incidents of armed conflict more often than not lead to violations against the rights of civilians; their safety, security, and very lives are put into danger, and the normal flow of their lives spent mainly on pursuing their respective means of livelihood are disrupted,” Taguiwalo said.
President Rodrigo Duterte suspended peace talks with the communist rebels a couple of weeks ago out of frustration over the recent deaths of several soldiers in war-torn areas at the hands of the NPA. (Aytch dela Cruz)
