Albay: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 5 (Bicol) distributed assistance worth PHP100,000 to families affected by fire incidents in Barangay Bagumbayan, Daraga, Albay on Wednesday. In a media release on Thursday, DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio stated that the department's Disaster Response Management Division provided food and non-food relief items, including hygiene kits, kitchen kits, family kits, sleeping kits, collapsible water containers, six-liter bottled water, and laminated sacks, to five affected families.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DSWD-5 also offered relief assistance to help the families with processing the documentary requirements for financial assistance worth PHP10,000 each, under the DSWD-5's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. An initial report from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 5 indicated that the houses of the five families were destroyed.

Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage. The DSWD-5 is coordinating with the local government of Daraga and other national government agencies to ensure that additional necessary support will be extended to the affected families. The DSWD, following Secretary Rex Gatchalian's directive, has initiated a program to deliver quick and comprehensive aid to individuals and families affected by disasters and emergencies across the region.