Legazpi city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol Region (DSWD-5) has provided more than PHP4.6 million in humanitarian assistance to families affected by the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano. DSWD-5 Disaster Response Management Division chief Claudio Villareal stated that the aid consists of food and non-food items for displaced families.
According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD has distributed 2,391 family food packs and 960 ready-to-eat food packs to affected towns and cities in Albay. Mobile trucks and other agency assets have also been deployed to Malilipot and Tabaco City to ensure a quick response to the needs of evacuees. The World Food Programme Mobile Kitchen is operating at the San Jose Evacuation Center in Malilipot, while the DSWD-Bicol Mobile Kitchen and Mobile Water Station are stationed at the Buang Evacuation Center in Tabaco City, providing hot meals and clean drinking water.
Claudio Villareal mentioned that this move aligns with the guidance of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian to strengthen the rapid and effective use of mobile resources during times of crisis, and the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure continuous and adequate government assistance to affected communities. He added that additional food packs from the central office were being unloaded in different warehouses.
Meanwhile, the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) reported that 983 families or 3,589 individuals affected by the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano are currently staying in evacuation centers. APSEMO updated data showed that evacuees came from the six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) and are distributed across several areas: Tabaco City with 390 families (1,399 persons), Malilipot with 399 families (1,466 persons), Camalig with 164 families (614 persons), Guinobatan with four families (16 persons), and Ligao City with 26 families (94 persons).
Following the raising of Mayon's alert level to Alert Level 3, additional responders and vehicles were deployed to Malilipot, Guinobatan, and Ligao City to strengthen evacuation and response efforts. The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) remains on heightened alert, maintaining 16 border control points to prevent entry into the PDZ. PRO-5 said personnel, vehicles, and equipment are on standby to assist in evacuations, search and rescue, and other emergency operations.
Authorities urged residents to remain calm, prepare emergency kits, and closely follow advisories from local officials.
