The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced on Thursday (January 22) that aside from the provision of food and non-food items (FNFIs), a cash-for-work (CFW) will be provided to 1,323 families affected by the continuing unrest of Mayon volcano.
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said these families include farmers and fisherfolk whose livelihoods were disrupted by the volcanic activity.
“Noong nagtungo tayo diyan sa Albay, a few weeks back kasama si Secretary Rex Gatchalian, tiniyak na natin na may mga karagdagang interventions tayong ipo-provide apart from the usual food and non-food items that we have distributed. Mayroon tayong ipo-provide na financial assistance adapting the cash-for-work modality. We hope na makapag-umpisa na tayo dito before the end of January,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who also serves as DSWD spokesperson said during the Thursday Media Forum.
Under the CFW program, beneficiaries will receive financial aid based on the regional minimum wage rate multiplied by 30 days, which is the initial period agreed upon by the affected local government units (LGUs) and the DSWD.
Each beneficiary is expected to receive more than Php13,000 a month in exchange for community-based work such as planting in vacant areas, tending livestock, maintaining sanitation facilities in evacuation centers, and other similar activities.
“Ang utos kasi ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, ay tiyaking handa tayong tumugon sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayang maaapektuhan ng iba’t-ibang mga kalamidad. Of course, ‘yan din naman po ang sinusunod ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out.
The DSWD spokesperson said the Department has so far provided Php14,052,010 worth of humanitarian aid which include family food packs (FFPs) distributed to Mayon-affected families and individuals.
The DSWD spokesperson assured the public that sufficient resources are in place to sustain long-term assistance.
According to the DRMG official, Secretary Rex Gatchalian has directed that more than enough FFPs should be prepositioned in various warehouses in the Bicol Region.
“Hindi po kasi natin mape-predict kung hanggang kailan tatagal itong pag-aalburuto nitong Mt. Mayon, but kung tumagal man ito or lumala pa, we are ready to provide the necessary augmentation support,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
“The current stockpile of the Department is around 3 million family food packs. Araw-araw nagpo-produce pa rin kami ng around 18,000 FFPs sa ating Luzon Disaster Resource Center at sa Visayas Disaster Resource Center,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.
Social workers and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) from the DSWD’s Field Office (FO) 5 – Bicol Region are currently deployed in various evacuation centers to ensure the safety, welfare, and psychosocial needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Asst. Secretary Dumlao also noted that evacuation centers in the region are well-maintained and properly managed by the LGUs.
“These evacuation centers are owned and managed by the local government units. Sa katunayan po, magaganda ‘yung mga ECs diyan po sa Guinobatan, sa Malilipot, sa Tabaco City, na naikutan po namin with Secretary Rex,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
Based on the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC) report, the continuing activity of Mayon volcano has affected 14 barangays, with 1,530 families or 6,079 individuals experiencing displacement and other forms of disruption.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao said 12 evacuation centers remain open, accommodating 1,116 families or 4,060 individuals.
Meanwhile, the DSWD continues to provide assistance to families affected by Typhoon Ada, especially in Bicol, Caraga, and Eastern Visayas Region.
“Tayo po ay nakapagbigay ng tulong sa Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon. Gayundin po sa Negros Oriental, Eastern at Northern Samar, Tacloban City. Nagtungo na rin po tayo sa Caraga Region particularly sa Agusan Del Norte and Surigao Del Norte,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said. (KB)
