HELP FOR EVACUEES. Dr. Aurora Teresa Daluro, head of the Public Health Preparedness and Response Unit of the Department of Health (DOH) 5 (Bicol), reports on Thursday (May 7, 2026) the agency’s ongoing medical and logistical assistance to municipalities in Albay affected by the unrest of Mayon Volcano. She said since January, DOH-5 has extended more than PHP3.6 million worth of aid to affected communities and evacuation centers. (PNA photo by Carlo Martin Cruel).
LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) 5 (Bicol) has mobilized more than PHP3.6 million worth of medical supplies and logistical assistance to municipalities in Albay affected by Mayon Volcano’s ongoing unrest.
Aurora Teresa Daluro, head of the Public Health Preparedness and Response Unit of DOH-5, said Thursday that the agency has deployed rapid health assessment teams to affected areas to ensure immediate medical assistance for evacuees.
“Since January, we have implemented a replenishment plan every first week of the month,” Daluro said.
“We are sending medicine supplies to evacuation camps and Rural Health Units, while jerry cans and health kits are already in place.”
She said DOH-5 has also deployed 67 human resources for health (HRH) personnel, composed of Doctors to the Barrios, midwives, pharmacists, and nurse deployment program personnel, stationed in evacuation camps round-the-clock.
The agency has likewise established fast lanes and implemented a no-balance billing strategy in hospitals across Albay for evacuees affected by the volcanic unrest.
“So that evacuees do not have to spend money, we have No Balance Billing and the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program, as long as they are identified as evacuees,” Daluro said.
To strengthen disease monitoring, DOH-5 enhanced the Surveillance in Post-Extreme Emergencies and Disasters (SPEED) information system, which receives daily health reports from evacuation camps.
The agency also mobilized its Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) team, along with rural sanitary inspectors, to conduct water sampling and testing in affected communities.
As part of efforts to ensure safe drinking water, the agency introduced the “Palit Jerry Can” strategy for evacuees.
In addition, the agency conducted nutritional assessments, supplementary and therapeutic feeding activities, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services sessions in evacuation centers.
Daluro said DOH-5 has so far recorded 229 psychological interventions provided to evacuees. (PNA)