DSWD extends financial aid to survivors, families of MV Trisha Kerstin 3 victims
DSWD On Tuesday said that aside from ready-to-eat food boxes, the agency provided cash assistance to the survivors of MV Trisha Kerstin 3
Photo courtesy of DSWD
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Tuesday that its Field Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) has extended financial assistance to passengers rescued from MV Trisha Kerstin 3 following the maritime incident on 26 January.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said in a social media post that survivors and bereaved families received financial aid, in addition to ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes distributed to individuals temporarily staying at the Isabela City Port.
“Nagpaabot ang DSWD ng tulong-pinansyal sa mga survivors at sa pamilya ng mga nasawi upang makatulong sa kanilang agarang pangangailangan, kasabay ng pamamahagi ng ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes para masiguro na may sapat na pagkain ang mga pamilyang pansamantalang nananatili sa Isabela City Port,” Gatchalian said.
According to DSWD Field Office 9, a total of 134 rescued passengers received medical assistance amounting to P5,000 each, while two bereaved families were given P10,000 in burial assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
Gatchalian added that the agency is also providing psychosocial support and is closely coordinating with the local government unit of Basilan and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to continuously monitor the situation and assist the victims until recovery.
Based on the latest report from the PCG, MV Trisha Kerstin 3 was carrying more than 350 people. The passenger ferry sent a distress call at around 1:50 a.m. on Monday, roughly four hours after departing Zamboanga City at about 9:20 p.m. on Sunday.
Shortly after the distress call, the ferry sank about five kilometers east of Baluk-Baluk Island, near Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan. As of press time, 18 fatalities have been confirmed, while dozens remain missing, according to the PCG.
The DSWD also reported that around 137 RTEF packs have been distributed within 24 hours since the incident occurred. Social workers were immediately deployed to Zamboanga Port and Isabela Port to conduct stress debriefing sessions and carry out assessment and profiling of survivor-victims.
“Sa gitna ng trahedya, mahalaga ang agarang tulong—hindi lamang pagkain kundi pati pag-alalay sa emosyonal at mental na kalagayan ng mga apektado. Patuloy ang DSWD sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa lokal na pamahalaan at iba pang ahensya upang matiyak na tuloy-tuloy ang suporta at walang maiiwan,” Gatchalian said.