MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Bicol Region field office has extended aid to families affected by the eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay province.
According to Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group, the field office distributed 59,153 family food packs, hot meals, and hygiene kits to displaced residents of Tabaco City, Camalig, and Malilipot.
“On orders from DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, we are already closely coordinating with concerned local government units, as well as non-government organizations, to ensure non-stop aid delivery,” Dumlao said.
The DSWD regional office also partnered with Bicol University and other youth groups to facilitate psychosocial activities, film presentations, games, and other educational activities to relieve the stress experienced by displaced children.
“The DSWD also extended livelihood assistance to internally displaced persons whose sources of income have been disrupted due to Mayon Volcano’s protracted restiveness,” the DSWD official said.
She told The Manila Times that the agency provided displaced families within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone with emergency cash transfer (ECT) and cash-for-work (CFW) interventions.
“These livelihood initiatives were made possible by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure that families directly affected by the pyroclastic avalanche must get immediate government assistance,” said Dumlao, who is also the agency spokesman.
On April 30, a total of 1,105 IDPs from four municipalities in Albay received ECT assistance.
At least 1,317 affected families in Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Malilipot, Ligao City, and Tabaco City also benefited from CFW, providing temporary income through community work for disaster-affected residents.
The CFW program also aided 2,169 farmers whose livelihoods are in the PDZ, where restrictions greatly affected their source of income.
“Upon Secretary Gatchalian’s instruction, several water tanks were sent to affected areas in Albay to ensure a steady water supply to the affected families and a sufficient insulation system in child and women-friendly spaces inside the evacuation centers,” she added.
As of May 3, 1,438 families or 5,440 people were taking temporary shelter in 14 evacuation centers in Albay, the DSWD said.
