The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the La Castellana Elementary School faculty jointly assisted young learners affected by the continuing unrest of Mt. Kanlaon by providing temporary learning sessions inside evacuation centers, the agency spokesperson said on Tuesday.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the DSWD Field Office (FO) 6-Western Visayas personnel and the La Castella faculty members started their joint efforts to assist prospective learners by handing them learning modules last Monday.

“We at the DSWD always strive in addressing the needs of our disaster-affected kababayan —beyond our standard provision of food packs and non-food items. This initiative is among the ground manifestations of this commitment,” Dumlao said.

Dumlao, also assistant secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), said that since the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon last Dec. 9, the affected local government units (LGUs) have issued various class suspension notices and shifts in the mode of learning.

The temporary learning sessions, she said, were established as an alternative to regular school activities.

Face-to-face classes are scheduled for the pupils every Monday, while modular sessions are set Tuesday to Friday, Dumlao added.

“In addition to the learning modules, a school-based feeding program was held, where we distributed milk to the pupils. This effort is crucial to support their health, which must not be compromised, particularly in this challenging time,” she said.

These initiatives are among the convergence efforts between the DSWD and the academic institution aimed at keeping children engaged in their studies amid the crisis.

“We see these efforts as vital not only for bridging gaps on their academic progress but also for their emotional well-being,” Dumlao said.

The DSWD has so far extended PHP70 million worth of humanitarian assistance to the families affected by the Mt. Kanlaon volcanic unrest. (PNA)