Financial, medical aid provided to passengers of ill-fated M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 - DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Tuesday that it has already provided food and medical assistance to passengers of the M/V Trish Kerstin 3, the ferry that sank off the Basilan coast on Monday.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumalo said assistance was already given to more than 100 survivors brought to Isabela City in Basilan. 

She added burial assistance was also extended to the families of some of the fatalities. 

“Nakapag-distribute tayo ng ready to eat food boxes sa 137 survivor passengers na nasa Isabela, Basilan kahapon. Gayun din po, as of 4 a.m. this morning, nakapag-provide na tayo ng medical assistance para sa pagpapagamot ng mga pasahero who have sustained injuries, nasa 134 po ‘yan na passengers and then two bereaved families naman po received burial assistance from the DSWD through Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations,” she said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.

(We were able to distribute ready-to-eat food boxes to 137 survivor passengers in Isabela, Basilan yesterday. Likewise, as of 4 a.m. this morning, we have provided medical assistance for the treatment of 134 passengers who sustained injuries. Additionally, two bereaved families received burial assistance from the DSWD through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program.) 

The DSWD official added social workers are also looking after the survivors brought to Zamboanga City. 

“May mga passengers na dinadala din po sa Zamboanga City, so sila ay ina-assist din ng ating mga social workers,” said Dumlao.

(There are also passengers being brought to Zamboanga City, and they are also being assisted by our social workers.)

Aside from food and medical assistance, the DSWD is also providing psychosocial first aid to survivors. 

“Ang atin din pong mha social workers, in coordination with the provincial social welfare office, ay nagsasagawa ng psychosocial first aid  para dito sa mga victim survivors at matulungan sila na maka-recover from this unfortunate incident,” said Dumlao. 

(Our social workers, in coordination with the provincial social welfare office, are also conducting psychosocial first aid for the victim-survivors to help them recover from this unfortunate incident.) 

According to the Office of Civil Defense - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the reported fatalities rose to 19. 

Diving operations to search for the remaining missing passengers from the sunken roll-on/roll-off vessel will begin on Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard said. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News