Guinobatan: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has assured that the national government is fully equipped and sufficiently funded to sustain a prolonged relief operation for farmers and residents affected by the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano in Albay province. During a press conference at the Guinobatan Municipal Hall on Thursday, Gatchalian said he is acting on the direct orders of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to focus on the situation in Mayon, noting that it is an ongoing disaster. 'It's a protracted incident. So, the response has to be commensurately protracted as well,' he said.

According to Philippines News Agency, the secretary added that the agency is tapping a substantial national reserve specifically designed for rapid disaster response. "The national government has a Quick Response Fund (QRF) of around PHP35 billion. So, there's still ample funds; less than half of that has been used, and hopefully we won't use it," he said. Gatchalian is in Albay to oversee the distribution of emergency cash transfer (ECT) assistance to farmers severely affected by Mayon's continued unrest.

"This cash assistance is something we will keep monitoring as the situation on the ground evolves. This is an initial intervention, and if the province and the LGUs request further assistance, then we will not hesitate to come in again," he said. The distribution of ECT benefited 6,411 farmers whose livelihoods were devastated by the recent ashfall and pyroclastic density current incidents on May 2.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian also cited the department's ongoing operations in other areas experiencing continuous calamities. "The DSWD has had experiences with protracted disasters. Mt. Kanlaon has been erupting until now, and that was before Mt. Mayon. We've also experienced a six-month oil spill response in Mindoro. So, we make sure to sustain our efforts until the farmers and affected families get back on their feet," he said.

Moreover, the DSWD continues to provide family food packs every 15 days, alongside deployed mobile kitchens that serve fresh meals to internally displaced persons at various evacuation centers. "That's why the emergency cash transfers come into play, because we want to make sure that the overall health and well-being of our evacuees and affected families are met," he said.