The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government unit (LGU) of Malilipot, Albay has started the relocation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) staying in two public schools in the municipality to ensure a safer place for displaced residents affected by the continuing Mayon Volcano unrest.
“Dahil nais po nating mabigyan ng mas kumportableng kundisyon ng pamumuhay ang mga displaced families na apektado ng pag-aalburoto ng Mayon, nagtulungan po ang DSWD Field Office (FO) 5 – Bicol Region at ang LGU ng Malilipot para mag-set up ng 131 tents sa newly-established Tent City ng munisipalidad,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said on Wednesday (January 28).
Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also DSWD spokesperson, said more than 100 families who were staying in the San Jose Elementary School and San Jose National High School were relocated to the Tent City to provide a more private, decent, and comfortable living space to the IDPs.
“Nais po ng Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na hindi rin maantala ang pagkatuto ng mga estudyante sa apektadong lugar kaya’t ang isinagawang paglipat ay magbibigay daan para maipagpatuloy ang naantalang klase sa mga paaralan na ginawang pansamantalang evacuation centers,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.
The transfer of the IDPs to the Tent City complies with the Department of Education (DepEd) protocol limiting the use of public schools as temporary evacuation centers to 15 days.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the DSWD will continue helping the affected localities by providing assistance to their displaced constituents, including the provision of family food packs (FFP).
As of press time, the Department provided more than Php14.2 million worth of humanitarian aid to Mayon-affected families.
The mobile kitchen of DSWD’s FO 5 has been deployed and regularly provides hot and nutritious meals to prevent the IDPs from having food pack fatigue.
The DSWD’s FO 5 staff also conducts child-friendly psychosocial activities to help the children cope with stress while staying inside the evacuation centers.
“Bukod po sa mga relief items, nagsagawa rin po ang DSWD ng cash-for-work (CFW) para magbigay ng temporary means of livelihood sa mga Mayon evacuees sa Tent City. Ang ilan sa mga community-based work na ginagawa ng ating mga IDPs ay ang pagsasaayos ng kundisyon ng site sa pamamagitan ng road graveling, cleaning ng site, at basic facility repairs,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said. (AKDL)
