Aid for Mayon-affected families now at P81-M: DSWD

FILE: As of Jan. 29, around 84,000 residents from the province of Albay were evacuated due to the volcanic eruption since January 13. (PNA Photo)

MANILA — A total of PHP81.09 million worth of assistance has been extended to families affected by the series of eruptions of Mayon Volcano, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported Wednesday.

Of the amount, PHP18.93 million was sourced from the department, PHP2.85 million from local government units (LGUs), PHP532,626 from non-governmental organizations, and PHP58.78 million from other humanitarian aid providers, including National Government Agencies, said a report issued on Jan. 31 by the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC).

DSWD Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel Leyco said the department and its office in the Bicol region are helping LGUs meet the needs of displaced residents.

“Based on our consultations with DSWD Field Office 5 (Bicol), we have enough provisions to augment the supplies we already prepositioned with the LGUs. We maintain a daily inventory of said supplies, and we closely monitor them to ensure that we can immediately send more from our warehouses in Pasay and Cebu,” Leyco said in a statement.

As of Tuesday, Albay’s provincial action teams have distributed food packs to families from Barangay Matanag, Legazpi City who are currently staying at the Albay Central School, as well as to evacuees at the Buraguis Elementary School, also in Legazpi.

Each food pack contains 6 kg. of rice, four cans of sardines, four cans of corned beef, and six packs of coffee.

The DSWD has also attended a meeting called by the Office of Civil Defense regarding President Rodrigo Duterte’s instruction to construct additional toilets and temporary learning space in evacuation centers.

As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, Mayon’s volcanic activities have affected 23,250 families or 89,828 persons from 61 barangays in Albay, some 19,233 families or 72,972 persons of whom have sought refuge in evacuation centers, while 2,901 families or 11,993 persons are staying with relatives and friends.

Meanwhile, the department has waived the conditionalities for beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who have been affected by Mayon.

“We have already met with officials of our regional office in Bicol and we decided that we will call for the suspension of the conditionalities for 4Ps so that our beneficiaries can receive their cash grants without having to meet the conditions for the program,” said Leyco.

Beneficiaries of the 4Ps have to meet certain conditions to stay in the program. For instance, pregnant women must avail of pre- and post-natal care, parents or guardians must attend the family development sessions, during which topics on responsible parenting, health, and nutrition are discussed and children-beneficiaries must attend school.

DSWD-Bicol has estimated that 6,114 household beneficiaries under the jurisdiction of nine LGUs of Albay have been affected, and about 5,479 4Ps households are in evacuation centers.

Leyco further said that they would implement the cash-for-work program for those staying in evacuation centers.

“We will make our cash-for-work payouts more frequently so that the beneficiaries would be able to receive the cash as they need them,” he said.