Albay: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released over PHP73 million in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) and more than PHP45 million in cash-for-work (CFW) modality to Albay families affected by the continuous unrest of Mayon Volcano.

According to Philippines News Agency, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) emphasized the importance of the ECT in helping internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their swift recovery and address their specific household needs. Dumlao, who also serves as DSWD spokesperson, highlighted the flexibility of the ECT, noting that it allows affected families and individuals to use the funds for various necessities such as food, livelihood, and medicine.

The DSWD has also distributed more than 133,000 family food packs (FFPs) to ensure a steady food supply for the displaced residents. In addition to the FFPs, the agency has provided other relief items to evacuation centers within the Bicol Region. These include 1,400 boxes of ready-to-eat food and over 8,000 non-food items like hygiene kits, sleeping kits, and family tents.

Dumlao stated that the DSWD determines the qualified beneficiaries of the ECT and CFW based on the official list of affected households submitted by the local government units (LGUs). To ensure continuous support without exhausting local resources, the DSWD's Field Office in Bicol Region maintains a 15-day rotational distribution schedule with the provincial government of Albay.

She assured the public that the DSWD's national stockpiles remain sufficient to sustain the response for the entire year. The Luzon Disaster Resource Center promptly replenishes any quantity released by the local government units, aiming to maintain a 300,000-stockpile in warehouses across Region 5.

Dumlao added that the DSWD continues to closely monitor the situation in Albay and maintains active coordination with local executives to immediately address the evolving needs of the affected communities.