THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Central Office will send additional 1,000 family tents to its Bicol Regional Office in preparation for the possible raising of the alert level of the Mayon Volcano.
Currently, the DSWD Field Office 5 has a ready supply of 400 family tents, a number of which are now being used by 62 families from Bgy. Lidong who were relocated to Bgy. Sohoton in Sto. Domingo, Albay.
Based on an inspection conducted by DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio, the current condition of the Bgy. Lidong evacuees is considered unsafe, especially for children, since their temporary shelters are situated along the road and are made of light materials.
Laurio has already coordinated with Sto. Domingo Mayor Jun Aguas for the transfer of the displaced families to a safer place, with Field Office 5 providing laminated sacks and family tents for the reconstruction of temporary houses of the 62 families from Bgy. Lidong.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Marlon Alagao of the Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) assured the Bicol Regional Office of an additional 1,000 family tents, which can be dispatched anytime.
Laurio assured that Field Office 5, with the help of non-government organizations (NGOs), has provided the 62 families with non-food items such as hygiene, sleeping and family kits.
Earlier, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian ordered the delivery of the second wave of family food packs to evacuees, as well as Mayon-affected families, that will cover the period of July 2 to 17.
