A truck from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) National Resource Operation Center in Pasay City arrives in Albay carrying family food packs as augmentation support to the Department’s Field Office in Region V, which has been at the forefront of the relief operation for the residents affected by the effects of Mayon’s volcanic activities.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Field Office (FO) in the Bicol Region is continuously coordinating with the provincial government of Albay to monitor the condition of families and individuals who fled to various evacuation centers due to the threat of the impending ‘hazardous’ eruption of  Mayon Volcano.

Members of the DSWD-FO V Emergency Management Team (EMT) have been making the rounds in various evacuation centers in Legazpi City and nearby towns to check on the needs of the displaced families. Yesterday, the team visited affected individuals who are now staying at the newly-opened evacuation center at Barangay Buraguis, Legazpi City.

To help the provincial government respond to the needs of the affected citizens, the FO on Tuesday sent augmentation assistance in the form of family food packs (FFPs) and malongs to the province. A total of 5,500 FFPs and 11,000 malongs were given to the provincial government for distribution to evacuees, while 500 food packs and 1,000 malongs were delivered to Legazpi City.

This morning, three trucks carrying 3,400 food packs from the DSWD National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City arrived in Albay as additional augmentation support of the Central Office to Field Office V. The DSWD Central Office will be sending 26,600 FFPs more to Bicol in the coming days to help the FO respond to relief assistance requests from the affected cities and municipalities.

DSWD Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel A. Leyco assures the citizens of Albay of the Department’s maagap at mapagkalingang serbisyo during this time of emergency as it continues to ensure sufficient provision of relief assistance to the displaced individuals.

“We continue to coordinate with all units involved in providing assistance to communities affected by Mayon’s impending eruption. Even now, we are making efforts to put together a plan of recovery that can be implemented soon after the eruption if and when it does come to pass. Thousands are already affected and their lives will not be able to return to normal for some time – we need to help them cope with the situation,” he said.

Based on the latest report from the DSWD-Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DReAMB), the number of affected families has now reached 9,139 families or 39,916 persons in 37 barangays in eight cities and municipalities in Albay.

Of this number, 8,657 families or 34,908 individuals are taking temporary shelter in 32 evacuation centers in the municipalities of Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Malilipot, and Sto. Domingo as well as in the cities of Legazpi, Ligao, and Tabaco. Meanwhile, 482 families or 2,008 persons are staying with their relatives and friends.

According to DSWD FO V Assistant Regional Director Arwin Razo, the field office is ready to provide additional relief assistance to the affected towns.

“We still have available stockpiles worth P11.4 million. We also have standby funds, which can be utilized at any given time to provide for the needs of our affected families and population in the mentioned eight local government units in the province of Albay,” Asst. Dir. Razo said during a press briefing with representatives from the national government and LGUs of Albay at the Philippine Air Force Tactical Operations Group 5 in Legazpi City. ###