Iriga City – In the wake of an armed encounter in Sitio Montañosa, Barangay Sagrada, Iriga City, Camarines Sur, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V – Bicol Region swiftly responded by providing immediate relief assistance and psychosocial support to affected families on April 19, 2025, Black Saturday.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:00 AM on April 18, 2025 (Good Friday), when elements of the 42nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army engaged in a firefight with alleged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA). The exchange of gunfire lasted over 35 minutes.

Although no families were reported as displaced, an initial report from the Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO) of Iriga City indicated that 65 families, totaling 281 individuals, faced significant disruption to their livelihoods. These families were temporarily restricted from accessing their workplaces and farming areas due to safety concerns in the affected zone.

In response, and under the direction of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian through Regional Director Norman S. Laurio, DSWD Bicol mobilized its Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) and the Provincial SWAD Action Team of Camarines Sur. This was done in coordination with the local government of Iriga City and the Philippine Army.

The agency provided 130 family food packs, valued at over PHP 116,000, to meet the urgent needs of the affected population.

To address the psychological impact of the incident, social workers from the Field Office conducted psychosocial interventions for the affected residents, focusing particularly on vulnerable groups such as children and women. The agency also set up Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) and Women-Friendly Spaces (WFS) to support community recovery and well-being.

In addition to the relief packs, DRMD also provided hot meals to the affected residents.

The 42nd Infantry Battalion clarified the situation, assuring residents that no civilians were harmed during the encounter. Security forces have since been deployed to the area, with roadblocks and other safety measures established to ensure the safety of the community and maintain peace and order.

During the activity, various DSWD programs and services, including the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), were discussed, along with their processes.

As a member of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and Vice Chair of the Response Cluster of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), DSWD remains committed to providing timely and compassionate assistance to communities affected by armed conflict, ensuring access to essential support and social services from the Department.###