THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is planning to give cash assistance to families that might be affected by the Mayon Volcano’s restiveness.
DSWD Secretary Rex T. Gatchalian made the announcement during an interview with ANC’s Karen Davila.
Gatchalian said the plan to distribute cash aid aims to empower individuals and families who have been displaced due to volcanic activity in Albay province.
“We can empower them with the right to choose. You give them cash, they can go to their grocers to buy their family needs,” the DSWD head said.
The cash assistance will help affected families to buy their other needs such as powdered milk for older persons and infants, an item that is not included in the DSWD’s Family Food Packs (FFPs).
The initiative is also part of the Department’s effort to practice the “anticipatory action” approach in disaster response.
“Anticipatory action, alam mong sasabog ang bulkan, so we can already empower the people through cash assistance. Kasi the boxes are typical, eh. They are not tailored fit to meet every family’s individual requirements,” Gatchalian further explained.
The DSWD secretary said the cash aid will be sourced from the Department’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office 5 was placed on heightened alert amid the restiveness of Mayon Volcano.
The PRO5 was instructed to be ready for deployment in areas where their assistance is needed.
A total of 253 Bicol policemen have already been deployed in the affected areas to help secure 3,759 families composed of 13,523 local residents. The evacuees come from 22 barangays in seven municipalities in Albay province.
Phivolcs classified Mayon Volcano under Alert Level 3 last Thursday due to potential explosive activity happening within days or weeks.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of Legazpi is accepting donations for thousands of evacuees from the danger zone of the country’s most active volcano amid its continuing unrest.
Fr. Eric Matillano, executive director of the diocese’s Social Action Center, said it is accepting donations to provide water, food, hygiene kits, and other necessities to affected residents.
“SAC Legazpi welcomes donations in cash and in kind,” he said.
Matillano said donations in kind may be directly delivered to local parishes or to the SAC Legazpi office at the Albay Cathedral compound in the city of Legazpi.
Cash donations may be sent to their BPI Savings Account No. 0851–0067-37, with the account name Social Action Center.
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