The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its field office (FO) in the Bicol Region, has sent relief assistance to families and individuals who evacuated to safety as lava continued to flow down from Mayon Volcano in Albay as a sign of its impending eruption.

DSWD FO V today sent a total of 5,500 family food packs (FFPs) amounting to P2,211,000 and 11,000 pieces of malong amounting to P2,750,000 to the Provincial Government of Albay for distribution to the families staying in the evacuation centers in the province.

The Field Office also provided 500 FFPs amounting to P210,000 and 1,000 pieces of malong amounting to P250,000 to the local government unit of Legazpi City, bringing the total cost of assistance of the FO to P5,412,000.

According to the 2pm report of the DSWD-Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DReAMB), the number of affected families has increased to 5,761 or 23,729 individuals in 30 barangays in Albay.

Some 4,659 families or 18,793 persons are taking refuge in 23 evacuation centers in the municipalities of Daraga, Guinobatan, Malilipot, and Santo Domingo and the cities of Ligao and Tabaco; while 1,184 families or 4,936 persons are staying with their relatives and friends.

DSWD Officer in Charge Emmanuel A. Leyco said that the agency is closely monitoring developments in Albay and is prepared to immediately send augmentation supplies should local government units (LGUs) in affected municipalities issue calls for them.

“We are on active standby as we are in close coordination with LGUs regarding the needs of their constituents during this period of emergency. We also appeal to the public to give support to all government efforts as well as to the efforts of the private sector to assist affected families and communities,” he said. ###