The city government will deliver psychosocial services to the residents of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to help them deal with the trauma from the recent onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

In a radio interview Wednesday, City Social Welfare and Development (CSWDO) chief Marlisa Gallo underscored the intervention’s importance in helping the thousands of BARMM families cope with stress and protect their mental health.

On Oct. 29, floods brought by the storm hit BARMM, displacing 115,437 families (or 572,185 individuals) from 126 barangays and have taken dozens of lives, particularly in Maguindanao province.

Apart from the assistance, Gallo said the local government is accepting donations for Paeng victims in BARMM.

Basic needs such as food and drinking water are the top priority in aid distribution, she said, as well as hygiene kits, toiletries, sleeping materials, and medicines.

“Those who wish to donate are encouraged to give the aforementioned essential items which can be dropped off at the CSWDO main building,” Gallo said.

Relief donations can also be dropped at the Task Force Davao Headquarters in Sta. Ana Wharf and at Rizal Park, she added.

Over the weekend, the city government sent out two teams to deliver the first batch of aid and relief goods to Maguindanao and Cotabato City.

A team of 44 people was deployed to Cotabato City while a team of 90, which will also be assisting in the ongoing search and rescue operations, was sent to Maguindanao. (PNA)