THE Davao City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) started to extend support and services to lumads in far-flung areas as part of the 2016 Pasko Fiesta sa Dabaw activities.
CSSDO Head Ma. Luisa Bermudo, in an interview, said the office has hosted the opening ceremony for their activities in Paquibato District and Marilog District last Wednesday, December 7.
Bermudo said activities were conducted in the villages of Marahan, Datu Salumay, Upper Kibalang and Tamugan in Marilog; Pana-gata, Pañalum and Malabog in Paquibato, Davao City.
She added they have product trade fair, children’s party, parlor games for kids and adults, gift-giving, storytelling, puppet show, birth registration, and mass wedding in these areas.
The CSDDO, with the City Health Office, will keep extending the services and conduct the activities in respective communities of the lumads from December 7 to 21, Bermudo said.
For the lumads who came to the city for caroling, the CSSDO already informed them its assistance will only last until December 10. Then, the office will help them return to their homes.
“These are really part of our Pasko Fiesta sa Dabaw. Thank God at maayos naman ang kalagayan ng ating mga lumad dito sa city. Wala naman naging kung anu-anong problema (Thank God nothing bad happened to the lumads in this city. There weren’t any problem that occurred),” Bermudo said.
Bermudo said almost 6,000 lumads are now being hosted by the local government in the shelters located at the riverside in Calinan, Buhangin, Bunawan, Toril, Agdao, Tugbok and Bankerohan.
Most of the lumads come from Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Agusan, Surigao, North Cotabato and Bukidnon while only few are coming from districts of Paquibato, Marilog and Calinan in Davao City.