Gov’t agencies vow to restore governance in ‘Socorro cult’ village

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), along with other government agencies, pledged to “restore governance” among members of the alleged Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. cult.

A composite team, consisting of personnel from DSWD, the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Education (DepEd), will be created and assigned to gather baseline data on the health and literacy of children, expectant mothers, and nursing mothers at the Socorro complex located in Sitio Kapihan, Surigao del Norte.

“The national government will bring back governance in the area. Life and governance must go on inside the premises of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc.,” said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday.

Gatchalian said that the information that will be collected from residents in the complex will be the government’s “foundation” in creating methods that would help them have a better way of living.

According to DSWD, they will oversee the human development component of the proposed restoration by utilizing the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services program, which will create learning and health facilities in the area.

The agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, Cash-for-Work program, and child psychologists will also be utilized and deployed in the area.

According to DSWD, there are about 909 households, or 3,184 individuals, listed as members of Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc.

Out of this, 1,967 are adults, while 1,173 are minors.

Furthermore, DSWD noted that a national approach is underway to boost the human life index of the Socorro members.

It was planned during an inter-agency meeting attended by representatives from the DepEd, DOLE, DOH, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Philippine National Police, and Gawad Kalinga.

Tesda, on the other hand, will likewise provide skills training to the residents, while PSA is set to assist in the birth and marriage certificate registration of those who are yet to get one.

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