DSWD sets up database for persons displaced by Zamboanga crisis

DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Social Welfare and Development has created a database to profile all internally displaced persons (IDPs) for a more systematic assessment of the multitude of families affected by the clash between government troops and the Nur Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said Wednesday that the database–which now contains the profiles of 13,165 families or 67,198 persons–will help the DSWD in developing programs that are culturally sensitive and suited to the needs of IDPs.

Soliman said the encoding started Sept. 16 at the Western Mindanao State University by volunteers, faculty members of WMSU and the information technology staff of DSWD-Region IX. The encoding will continue until all profiles of IDPs are completed.

The database has generated information on IDPs, especially those most vulnerable such as pregnant and lactating women, fire victims, persons with disabilities, senior citizens and children.

According to Soliman, the data generated from the database will enable the local social welfare office, non-government organizations, and other local government units to devise appropriate steps in managing relief operations at the evacuation centers. The evacuation centers are jointly managed by DSWD and the city social welfare and development office.

In a related development, the DSWD has started distributing colored cards as a replacement to the green family access cards, which were initially given to the evacuees.

“These colored cards will be used to classify the evacuees’ location so as to hasten the delivery of service,” Soliman added.

The classification will be in three color codes : yellow cards for evacuees who are staying at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex or Grandstand which serves as the biggest evacuation center; blue  cards for those staying in other evacuation centers; and pink cards for home-based evacuees or those who transferred and are currently staying in the house of their relatives and friends far from the critical areas.

“These color-coded cards will systematize the delivery of relief goods to the displaced families in Zamboanga City and to ensure that no one is left unserved,” Soliman said.