MANILA: The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Caraga Region (DSWD-13) provided Psychological First Aid (PFA) to 332 schoolchildren affected by a recent armed encounter between government forces and communist rebels in Tubay town, Agusan del Norte.
‘The PFA was provided through a request from the Tubay social welfare office in assisting the elementary students of Doña Telesfora Elementary School (DOTES) to overcome the aftermath of the distressing encounter between government forces and the lawless elements last Feb. 23, 2024,’ the DSWD-13 said in a statement Friday.
On Thursday, at least 17 social workers from the agency with the support of 13 interns joined hands in the conduct of the PFA to the schoolchildren.
The PFA, through different activities, is aimed to alleviate stress symptoms and support the positive recovery of the children after their stressful and traumatic experiences.
‘Following a series of engaging activities, the PFA team observed the resilience of the children, noting
their cooperative participation and openness in expressing their emotions regarding the incident,’ the DSWD-13 said.
During the exit conference, professional assessments showed no significant signs of extreme stress among the schoolchildren as they were ready to resume their studies without impediment.
DOTES head Liezel Santos expressed appreciation for the response of the DSWD-13 to the situation of the children.
‘Your presence made us feel that we are not alone with the prompt response you made,’ she said.
Source: Philippines News Agency