Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed over PHP117 million in humanitarian assistance to families affected by the Mayon Volcano unrest.
According to Philippines News Agency, spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, in an interview over PTV-4 on Monday, stated that the DSWD has extended food and non-food items, psychosocial interventions, cash-for-work, and emergency cash transfer (ECT) aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing near Mayon Volcano.
Dumlao noted that Secretary Rex Gatchalian instructed that the food packs taken from the warehouses be replenished immediately, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive. The focus is on the Bicol Region to ensure adequate resources for families affected by Mt. Mayon's abnormal activities.
As of 6 p.m. Sunday, the Disaster Response Operations Information Communication reported that the DSWD has provided 71,153 family food packs (FFPs), 7,634 non-food items, and 1,402 ready-to-eat food to the affected families. For cash aid, over PHP45 million has been disbursed to 3,487 farmers and IDPs whose livelihoods were temporarily halted due to pyroclastic activity of Mayon Volcano.
Dumlao explained that farmers who relocated to evacuation centers either planted crops in vacant lots within the compound or grazed their livestock. Financial assistance through the cash-for-work method was provided to ensure that these farmers continue to earn a living.
For the ECT assistance, Dumlao stated that the cash aid, amounting to more than PHP10,000 per family, will address other immediate needs of IDPs, not covered by food and non-food assistance. This includes requirements like children's milk, supplements, and other essentials.
The DSWD is also collaborating with concerned local government units (LGUs) to monitor the condition of 1,444 families or 5,459 individuals currently taking temporary shelter in 14 evacuation centers in the municipalities of Camalig and Malilipot, and the cities of Ligao and Tabaco, in Albay province.
Dumlao also emphasized the coordination with LGUs to ensure adequate ventilation and cooling areas in evacuation centers to avoid heat exhaustion and other illnesses due to high temperatures.
The Department maintains over 1.6 million FFPs, with more than 270,532 available at the DSWD Field Office 5-Bicol Region, ready for augmentation to affected LGUs.
