The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday announced that it is currently coordinating with the family of the woman who passed away while in line for financial aid at the Quezon City Hall on Tuesday.

This was DSWD Crisis Intervention Program Director Edwin Morata’s response following the unforeseen incident. They said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has tasked the agency’s National Capital Region (NCR) office to ensure all of Novaliches resident alias “Aling Marlene’s” family’s needs are attended to, reported RH 5 Val Gonzales on Thursday.

Morata clarified that the disbursement of cash aid had not yet begun when the incident occurred. According to the Quezon City Police District’s (QCPD) investigation, Aling Marlene, while queued with other beneficiaries, suddenly lost consciousness and fell face-down on a cement ground, resulting in her death.

The Quezon City local government unit (LGU), Morata said, was first to coordinate with the woman’s family. On Thursday, the DSWD NCR managed to get in touch with them as well.

“Una, ang LGU ang nakipag-ugnayan sa pamilya and yesterday po, hindi pa kami makapagbigay ng tamang aspeto ng assistance kasi pino-proseso pa ‘yung dokumento,” the director said.

“Ngayon po, at sa pagkakaalam ko po, na-reach out na po ng DSWD NCR ang pamilya (ni Aling Marlene). Inaalam na po natin ‘yung kung ano pa ‘yung pangangailangan kasi ang alam ko talaga, ang lokal na pamahalaan ang sasagot ng funeral assistance natin,” they added.

Aling Marlene, 55, hit her forehead on the ground at around 7:55 a.m. on May 19 at the Risen Garden inside the Quezon City Hall Compound. Although personnel from the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO) responded immediately to the incident and rushed her to the East Avenue Medical Center, she was declared dead on arrival.