The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Office (FO) 5 – Bicol Region, continues to provide assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by Mayon Volcano’s restiveness.
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) said a total of 1,115 families or 4,055 individuals are still staying at the 12 evacuation centers (ECs).
“As of 6pm po ng January 25, may 1,115 families pa po ang nasa sa loob ng mga evacuation centers at mayroong 17 na pamilya naman ang ninais na manatili muna sa kanilang mga kamag-anak. Umabot na po sa 6,363 individuals ang apektado ng patuloy na pag-alburoto ng Bulkang Mayon, pero sa kabila niyan hindi naman po tumitigil ang ating mga DSWD Angel’s in Red Vests sa pagbisita sa mga evacuation centers, at sa pag-iikot sa mga apektadong munisipalidad,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said on Monday (January 26).
On January 25, the DSWD’s FO 5 held a play for children at the San Antonio Evacuation Center in Barangay Oson, Tabaco City. This is part of the psychosocial and stress debriefing activities of the Department to address the emotional needs of children staying in evacuation centers.
A total of 15 children took part in the activity, which brought visible smiles and joy to both the children and their parents.
“Ang direktiba po kasi ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., sa ganitong panahon ng sakuna kinakailangan din na mawala yung pangamba at lungkot sa ating mga kababayan lalo na ng ating mga kabataan. Kaya ang utos po sa atin ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian, bukod sa provision ng basic needs, pwede pong magtayo ng mga ganitong maliliit na programa para sa mga bata,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.
The DSWD’s FO 5 has also started the distribution of family food packs (FFPs) as part of the second phase of the response operations for the Mayon Volcano unrest in Albay.
A total of 5,665 boxes of FFPs will be distributed to various barangays in Tabaco City, Malilipot, Camalig, and other affected municipalities.
The first phase of food assistance, which began on January 4, helped sustain the food requirements of 1,127 displaced families for 15 days.
“Last January 22, nakatanggap na po ng second batch of FFPs and mga evacuees po natin sa Tabaco City. Ito po ay mula sa mga barangay ng Buang, Magapo at Buhian. Kasabay po niyan, mayroon rin po kasi tayong mga IDPs temporarily staying sa ilang evacuation centers inside the school kagaya ng San Jose Elementary School, San Jose National High School at Tagaytay Elementary School,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
The DSWD spokesperson noted that the transfer of IDPs staying in evacuation centers within public schools to the Tent City in Malilipot has begun.
This action complies with the Department of Education (DepEd) protocol limiting the use of public schools as temporary evacuation centers to 15 days.
“Ongoing na po ang transfer ng ilan sa ating mga IDPs inside the public schools. Over 100 families po ay ililipat sa Tent City located in the municipality of Malilipot para po mas komportable sila. This will also give way for our students to have a more peaceful environment, and to not disrupt their classes,” the DSWD spokesperson emphasized.
As of press time, the total humanitarian assistance given by the DSWD to Mayon-affected families has reached Php14.06 million. (KB)
