Marcos tasks gov't agencies to check need for financial aid for Mayon-affected families

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. tasked concerned government agencies to check if there was a need to provide  families affected by a restive Mayon Volcano with financial assistance, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Tuesday.

"Naguusap na rin kami ng local government, upon the instruction of the President, na baka kailangan sustentuhan din natin o ayudahan natin ng financial assistance so naguusap at maguusap pa kami ni Governor kung paano at kailan natin ipapamahagi ang financial assistance at magkano," Gatchalian said at a press briefing.

(We are talking with the local government, upon the instruction of the President, to check if we also need to provide financial assistance. We will continue to talk with the Governor when we could give this aid and how much we will give.)

The DSWD earlier said it already distributed more than 50,000 food provisions amid Mayon Volcano's recent activities. The food packs contain six kilos of rice, nine canned goods, coffee, and ready-to-eat oatmeal.

Gatchalian also mentioned that 50 tons of various food items would arrive in Albay later tonight. These donations were from the United Arab Emirates, he added.

On Monday, the provincial government of Albay extended the danger zone around Mayon Volcano to seven kilometers due to its "increasing unrest."

Mayon Volcano is under Alert Level 3 due to its “intensified unrest” or magmatic unrest. A lava flow was observed on Sunday night, emplacing at least 500 meters from the summit crater along the Bonga and Miisi Gullies. — DVM, GMA Integrated News