Davao: After staying for more than a week in evacuation centers while enduring aftershocks, some 86 families from Tarragona, Davao Oriental were allowed to return to their homes following clearance from authorities.

According to Philippines News Agency, in a statement on Friday, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) reported that the agency, through its Field Office 11 (Davao Region), has extended assistance to the 'balik-bahay' families on Oct. 22 during a send-off ceremony. Dumlao expressed the agency's satisfaction at the clearance, stating, "Natutuwa po ang DSWD na nakakuha na ng clearance para bumalik na ang ating mga evacuees mula sa Tarragona sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan. Pinabaunan po ng DSWD ang mga naapektuhang pamilya ng family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat- food (RTEF) boxes, kitchen kits, sleeping kits at family kits para matulungan silang makapagsimulang muli."

In addition to the support from DSWD, the Office of Civil Defense contributed shelter repair kits, while the Department of Health provided hygiene kits to further aid the returning families. Dumlao emphasized the agency's commitment to ongoing support, stating, "Bagamat nakabalik na po ang mga pamilya sa kanilang mga tahanan, sisiguraduhin pa rin po ng DSWD na patuloy na i-monitor ang kanilang kondisyon para matulungan ang tuloy-tuloy nilang pagbangon mula sa nangyaring sakuna."

The DSWD is also preparing to extend financial assistance under its Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) to the affected families to support their early recovery, including the repair of their damaged houses. This post-disaster intervention aims to provide unconditional cash assistance to families that require additional aid after a calamity.