There are enough resources and funds to help families and individuals affected by the recent phreatic eruption of Bulusan Volcano in the province of Sorsogon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday, June 9.
“Sapat ang ating resources. Ang ating June 8 report, nakalagay d’yan na ‘yung ating Field Office 5 ay may mahigit 5 million-worth of food items. Gayundin po, meron din po tayong standby funds na maaari nating gamitin in case na magkulang ang ating family food packs (We have enough resources. Our June 8 report states that our Field Office 5 has more than 5 million-worth of food items. We also have standby funds that we can use in case our family food packs are insufficient),” said DSWD Director Irene Dumlao in a “Laging Handa” public briefing
In its National Resource Operation Center alone, the Department has stock piles and standby funds worth P1.6 billion. Of this number, over P611 million came from the DSWD Central Office and at least P1 billion-worth of stock piles from its field offices across the country.
As of Wednesday, June 8, Dumlao disclosed that DSWD, through its Field Office V, has extended augmentation assistance worth P390,000 to the municipalities of Juban and Irosin in Sorsogon.
These, according to Dumlao, are composed of food packs and hygiene kits, distributed to families and individuals, especially those who are taking temporary shelter in evacuation centers in Sorsogon.
“Patuloy po ang pakikipag ugnayan ng mga personnel on the ground sa mga local social welfare development officers upang malaman po natin kung ano pa ang mga karagdagang pangangailangan ng mga pamilyang naapektuhan (Our personnel on the ground are coordinating with the local social welfare development officers so that we can find out what the additional needs of the affected families are),” Dumlao furthered.
Meanwhile, low-level unrest continues at Bulusan Volcano. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), in its latest bulletin issued as of Thursday, June 9, warned that entry into the 4 kilometer (km)-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) remained prohibited.
Alert Level 1 is still hoisted over Bulusan. Under this alert level, sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions may occur.