LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has extended P22.9 million in assistance to families affected by the unrest of the Bulusan Volcano as of Friday.
DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio said the assistance included family food packs and non-food items necessary for the affected communities to meet their needs.
The DSWD has provided 30,000 family food packs, along with 3,194 additional food items. For non-food items, they have distributed 75 hygiene kits, 24 modular tents, 73 sleeping kits, and 24 water containers.
According to the latest report from the DSWD Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC), a total of 26,068 families, or 115,609 individuals from 77 barangays of Sorsogon province, have been affected by the volcanic activity.
Laurio said that the agency remains on high alert and is prepared to provide immediate assistance to families affected by the ongoing volcanic activity in the province.
“This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure that no one is left behind during times of disaster,” he said.
He confirmed that the 30,000 family food packs have already been delivered to the provincial government of Sorsogon, which is responsible for distributing them to affected towns and barangays using their trucks.
Laurio added that a standby fund of PHP789,114 is available for further purchases.
The DSWD-5 said it also has PHP204 million worth of stockpiles, which consist of food, non-food items, and raw materials, prepositioned in various warehouses across the region and its provinces. (PNA)