Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian said his agency is one with the government in ensuring that holistic support and justice will be given to the victims of recent vehicle crashes at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).
Gatchalian on Monday personally conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family of the couple from Plaridel, Bulacan who perished in the multi-vehicular collision at the SCTEX.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in a video message, likewise expressed his sympathies to the victims and vowed to reform the transport system, ensuring accountability in the separate tragedies.
“We want the families to know that the DSWD is here,” Gatchalian said in a statement released Tuesday.
The couple who was among the 10 dead in the May 1 SCTEX incident each received P50,000 burial assistance from the DSWD.
On top of this, Gatchalian assured the bereaved family that the agency will link them up with other national government agencies for them to receive other forms of aid that they may still need.
“Aside from financial assistance, I promised to help them get the death certificates registered,” Gatchalian said.
Upon the request of the family, the agency will coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to remove the pictures of the couple’s child posted in the internet.
“We will also bring them to the Department of Justice Secretary so they can get the justice they deserve,” the DSWD chief said.
Gatchalian also visited the wake of the 29-year-old man from Hagonoy, Bulacan, who was among the two fatalities in the NAIA Terminal 1 incident last Sunday (May 4).
