By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
While Mayon Volcano remains pegged at Alert Level 3, the volcano continues to show visible signs of unrest that have prompted comprehensive disaster response efforts from concerned agencies.
This, as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) doubles down on extending aid and assistance to families affected by Mayon’s restiveness.
In a media release on Tuesday, DSWD Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Irene Dumlao noted that over P7.8 million in humanitarian aid, including family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes, and non-food items (NFIs), were provided by the agency to the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) as of press time.
“In collaboration with other agencies and local government units (LGUs), we are intensifying our efforts and making preparations to ensure that the needs of the affected families taking temporary shelter in evacuation centers are well taken care of.”
The IDPs will temporarily stay at evacuation centers while a tent city is being constructed to ensure safe and humane conditions for evacuees, as well as provide additional temporary shelters in preparation for a possible eruption or further increase in volcanic activity.
In addition to FFPs, the DSWD also serves hot and nutritious meals through its mobile kitchen to ensure healthy food and nourishment for the displaced families.
Potable water is also being supplied through the agency’s mobile water station (MWS), benefiting the affected families since the first day of operations on January 9, ensuring that the basic needs of IDPs are effectively met.
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