The total cost of humanitarian assistance provided to families affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island has surpassed PHP 185 million, according to an official from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday.
During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao reported that the assistance has been delivered in the form of family food packs (FFPs), non-food items, and emergency cash transfers.
Dumlao noted that even before the reported lahar flow caused by heavy rains, the agency had been continuously assisting residents in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, particularly in areas surrounding Mt. Kanlaon.
“And dahil nga po sa pangyayaring ito, of course, ang DSWD ay patuloy na magpapahatid ng mga karagdagang pangangailangan sa pagkain at maiinom na tubig diyan po sa mga kababayan lalung-lalo na iyong mga nasa evacuation centers pa (Because of the new development, the DSWD will continue to bring additional food and potable water to our countrymen there, especially those that are still in the evacuation centers),” Dumlao stated.
According to DSWD data, a total of 23,000 families, or over 92,000 individuals, have been affected since Mt. Kanlaon erupted in December last year. Of these, 2,448 families, or 7,885 individuals, remain in 23 evacuation centers across four localities. Additionally, approximately 3,775 families, or 12,156 individuals, are staying with friends and relatives.
Dumlao mentioned that the DSWD has been providing other interventions, including the deployment of mobile kitchens, water tankers, and water treatment facilities, as well as psychosocial support for those affected.
She assured the families impacted by the eruption that the Marcos administration is working diligently to ensure their safety and well-being. “Sa ilalim po ng pamumuno ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na nagbigay po ng kautusan sa DSWD na bigyan ng kapanatagan ng kalooban iyong ating mga kababayan na maapektuhan ng iba’t ibang mga disasters, fully committed po ang DSWD sa pagtugon sa direktiba na iyan (Under the leadership of President Marcos, who has directed the DSWD to ensure the well-being of Filipinos affected by various disasters, the DSWD is fully committed to complying with that directive),” she concluded.
