THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday said it distributed over P10.3 million worth of emergency cash transfer (ECT) assistance to families affected by restive Mayon Volcano in Albay.
The P12,330 cash aid per family was distributed to 2,382 families staying in evacuation centers in Barangay San Andres in Sto. Domingo town (1,544 family beneficiaries) and Barangay San Jose in Malilipot town (838 family beneficiaries), in Albay.
“The simultaneous payout activities cover the last leg of ECT distribution for Mayon evacuees, as part of the directive of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian to assist all those affected by the eruption,” the DSWD said in a statement.
The DSWD has been providing the monthly ECT, since June, on top of the family food packs given to the evacuees.
Mayon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, which means that it is currently in a relatively high level of unrest and hazardous eruption may occur within weeks. Level was raised on June 8.
The DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) said 9,867 families (38,377 persons) from 26 barangays in Albay are affected by the volcanic activities including 5,801 displaced families (20,257 persons), including 5,392 families (18,826 persons) in 27 evacuation centers 409 families (1,431 persons) staying with their relatives or friends.
More than P108.51 million worth of family food packs (FFPs) and non-food relief items have already been provided to the affected families by the department, local government units, and private groups.
On Saturday, the office of Sen. Sonny Angara distributed five kilos of rice per family to evacuees at San Andres Evacuation Center, and relief items to families at the Sitio Bical Evacuation Center, both in Sto. Domingo while the local government of Sto. Domingo distributed drinking water to affected families at Sojoton and Bical evacuation centers.
Angara’s office also provided food packs to families staying at Anislag Elementary School and Daraga Evacuation Center in Daraga, Albay and Mauraro High School in Guinobatan, Albay.
The Ako Bicol party-list group gave food packs to affected families at the Gabawan Elementary School in Daraga while the United Arab Emirates donated bread. The Metrobank Purple Hearts Club Mayon Chapter donated food packs for families at the Albay provincial campsite and evacuation center in Barangay Basag in Ligao City.
AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee donated 500 gallons of drinking water to the displaced residents stating at the Guinobatan Community College in Guinobatan while the Metrobank Foundation Inc. distributed relief items to affected families at Camalig Bungkaras Evacuation Center in Camalig.
The Albay government of Albay and the Philippine Red Cross distributed hot meals to evacuees at the Comun Elementary School in Camalig while the Alpha Phi Omega — Bicol Administrative Region distributed ready-to-eat meals to families staying at Mauraro High School in Guinobatan.
