DSWD: Over P8.4M in relief aid given to Albay LGUs affected by Mayon Volcano unrest

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday said it has given over P8.4 million worth of humanitarian aid to local government units (LGUs) in Albay to help in their disaster response operations for families affected by Mayon Volcano’s unrest.

In a statement, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DMRG) said the DSWD’s Field Office (FO) 5 – Bicol Region is also closely coordinating with Albay’s LGUs to monitor the condition of more than 1,100 families or over 4,000 individuals temporarily staying in 12 evacuation centers.

“Mahigit P8.4 million na po na humanitarian assistance yung ating naipapaabot sa mga lugar na naapektuhan ng Mt. Mayon unrest, at patuloy po tayo na magpo-provide ng augmentation support dito sa mga lugar na naapektuhan, lalo pa na may mga pamilya pa na nasa mga evacuation centers,” Dumlao said.

(We have extended more than P8.4 million in humanitarian assistance to areas affected by the Mt. Mayon unrest, and we will continue to provide augmentation support in these affected areas, especially that there are families staying in evacuation centers.)

The DSWD spokesperson said the DSWD FO 5 has also coordinated with local officials on arrangements in distributing family food packs (FFPs) to evacuees.

“For 15 days ‘yung mga local government units, and then the next 15 days, DSWD will come in. Kasi alam naman natin na medyo magtatagal itong sitwasyon, itong pag-aalburoto ng Mayon,” Dumlao said.

(For 15 days, the LGUs will conduct distribution, and then the next 15 days, the DSWD will come in. Because know that this situation will be prolonged, the unrest of Mayon.)

The DSWD will also provide cash-for-work (CFW) to provide the affected families with a temporary source of livelihood amid the volcano’s restiveness.

“Alam naman natin na naantala yung kabuhayan ng mga residente doon sa foot hills ng Mayon, 30 days o habang po sila ay nasa evacuation center, sila po ay magtatanim, mag-aayos ng mga water and health sanitation facilities, magpapastol ng mga hayop, so aayusin nila yung kanilang mga kalagayan sa evacuation centers, but in return, ay may matatanggap sila na financial assistance from the DSWD,” Dumlao said.

(We know that the livelihood of residents living at the foot of Mayon are affected, so for 30 days or while they are still at the evacuation centers they will plant, take care of water and health sanitation facilities, tend to their livestock, so they will be in charge of the evacuation centers. But in return, they will receive financial assistance from the DSWD.)

On Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said it recorded increased seismic energy and volcanic gas release from Mayon Volcano, which remains under Alert Level 3.

It said three out of the volcano’s 16 stations recorded a spike in real-time seismic energy release (RSAM) between Thursday and Friday despite a lack of volcanic earthquake activity.

Meanwhile, Dumlao also assured that the DSWD’s resources are sufficient to help those in the Bicol Region who might be affected by the impact of Tropical Storm Ada.

She said 145,000 FFPs have been prepositioned in warehouses across the region and that the DSWD will augment these supplies in the coming days. — JMA, GMA Integrated News