ALERT LEVEL 3. Mayon Volcano photographed in Camalig, Albay on Sunday (Aug. 13, 2023). Government assistance to families in Albay province affected by the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano has so far reached PHP323.3 million. (PNA photo by Connie Calipay)
LEGAZPI CITY – The government's assistance to families in Albay province affected by the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano has so far reached PHP323.3 million, the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol (OCD-5) reported on Monday.
In a report, Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD-5 spokesperson, said the significant aid increase from PHP265 million in the Aug. 9 report shows the continuous assistance provided by different government agencies and other stakeholders.
"The additional cost of assistance of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) payout received by Mayon-affected beneficiaries, the continuous distribution of family food packs, payout for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program and Emergency Cash Transfer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)," Naz said.
At least 5,789 families or 20,254 persons from eight affected towns or 26 barangays were evacuated.
A total of 5,371 families or 18,801 individuals are inside 27 evacuation centers while 418 families or 1,453 persons are displaced but not sheltered at evacuation centers.
A total of 1,120 livestock were also evacuated from different designated areas.
Assistance provided to local government units (LGUs) affected and the provincial government of Albay includes distilled water in six-liter bottles, drums, family food packs, family kits, family tents, financial and fuel aid, hog grower feeds, hygiene kits, laminated sacks, "malongs", modular tents, nets, nylon ropes, rice and tarpaulins.
OCD-5 also provided siphoning services to address comfort room concerns in evacuation centers and fuel assistance to members of the logistics cluster.
Meanwhile, Marygizelle Mesa, DSWD-5 spokesperson, said an initial 4,950 sacks of rice arrived here over the weekend from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture-Forestry and Fisheries under the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve Tier 3 program, intended as aid for the Mayon-affected families.
An additional 5,050 sacks of rice are expected to arrive by Aug. 17.
Mayon Volcano is still under Alert Level 3, a relatively high level of unrest. (PNA)
