(Photo courtesy of DSWD-Bicol)
LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol has distributed Php 40.39 million in financial assistance to 4,205 dengue patients and bereaved families across the region’s six provinces as of October 19, 2026.
The assistance was provided through the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, covering medical expenses, financial relief, funeral costs, and food assistance.
DSWD-Bicol facilitated the distribution through 13 AICS satellite offices and seven Malasakit Centers to help families cope with expenses associated with dengue infections and related deaths.
Camarines Norte recorded the highest number of beneficiaries, with 1,742 individuals receiving Php 13.67 million, followed by Albay with 1,017 beneficiaries who received Php 13.24 million.
Sorsogon assisted 578 individuals with Php 7.35 million, while Camarines Sur provided Php 4.12 million to 612 beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, Catanduanes recorded 210 beneficiaries who received Php 1.51 million, while Masbate assisted 45 individuals with Php 477,400.
Aside from its dengue response, DSWD-Bicol has started preparing for the 2027 implementation of Project Local Adaptation to Water Access (LAWA) and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished (BINHI) amid concerns over the possible effects of El Niño early next year.
DSWD-Bicol Disaster Response and Management Division chief Claudio Villareal said the agency would prioritize maintaining existing water facilities and communal gardens to ensure their continued benefits to vulnerable communities.
“It is not enough for us to establish water facilities and communal gardens. More importantly, these facilities must be used, properly maintained, and kept productive even after the program’s initial implementation,” Villareal said.
He emphasized the importance of stronger partnerships with local government units, community organizations, and national agencies to sustain water resources and local food production.
For 2026, Project LAWA at BINHI covered 30 local government units across Bicol’s six provinces, benefiting 9,000 individuals with an allocated budget of Php 78.3 million.
According to Villareal, the agency achieved 100 percent of its targeted beneficiaries for the year.
The initiative seeks to improve water availability through harvesting facilities under LAWA while supporting food security through community gardens under BINHI.
Villareal stressed that ensuring the long-term operation of these facilities would be essential in helping communities withstand water shortages, protect agricultural livelihoods, and prepare for potential El Niño conditions.
The agency said its specific targets for 2027 would depend on the approved implementation plan and available funding from the DSWD Central Office.
