DSWD extends aid to girl who wrote Marcos for help amid local official's abuses

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended aid to the family of the 11-year-old girl in Tinambac, Camarines Sur who wrote President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to detail the alleged harassment that she and other children suffered at the hands of a barangay official.

In a statement on Monday, the DSWD said Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian immediately acted on the child’s plea for help as ordered by Marcos.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, the agency’s spokesperson, said the DSWD Field Office (FO) 5 – Bicol Region conducted an on-site assessment at the non-profit mission where the girl and her family were staying.

She said five families living at the mission each received P10,000 in cash relief assistance. The family of the 11-year-old letter-writer also received cash aid from the DSWD.

The DSWD said its team also provided psychosocial first aid (PFA) to three children living at the mission.

“Over-all the general findings of the visit highlighted gaps in access to basic services, stable source of livelihood, and protection mechanisms needed to ensure that the children will grow in a safe and supportive environment. We are seeking to provide additional support services to the children and families to address their needs,” Dumlao said.

She assured that the DSWD will conduct home visits this week to the remaining children living at the mission and their families.

“For the remaining children, we already requested assistance from the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC) to send a licensed psychologist to provide additional psychosocial support services. Two families who have not yet received assistance will be provided cash relief assistance this week,” Dumlao said.

The DSWD added that it will continue to monitor the condition of the children and their families, and provide interventions as needed.

READ: Tinambac LGU: Due process underway amid barangay kagawad's alleged abuses

Last week, the President said he deployed policemen to a community in Tinambac, Camarines Sur in response to the letter-writer’s plea for help amid the alleged abuses and harassment committed by the sons of a barangay official in her community.

Marcos said the girl’s letter made him very angry and close to tears as he assured the girl that she and her family will be protected so that she can continue studying and reading as much as she wants.

According to a report by GMA News, the letter-writer’s elder sister – a person with disability (PWD) – was among the rape victims of the barangay official’s sons.

The girl’s letter was posted on social media, where Marcos read it and left a comment on the post.

Last week, the letter-writer walked out of her elementary graduation to bring a complaint against the local official and a petition signed by 201 residents to authorities. — JMA, GMA News