Mayon evacuees receive 2nd tranche of emergency cash aid
The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Field Office 5 (DSWD-Bicol Region) on Friday, Oct. 13 began distributing the second tranche of the emergency cash transfer (ECT) to families affected by Mayon Volcano’s unrest in the past four months.
Secretary Rex Gatchalian ordered the ECT distribution in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to the DSWD, ensuring continuous food packs and cash aid for disaster-affected families and individuals.
The ECT distribution to 5,289 Mayon-affected families will end on Sunday, Oct. 15 to provide cash aid to those who remained in evacuation centers for nearly four months.
“These families have returned home after an advisory was released by the provincial government of Albay on Oct. 5. They were given food packs until Oct. 9 as a take home assistance from the field office,” DSWD-Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio said.
He said each affected family whose livelihood has been disrupted by the Mayon volcanic eruption will receive P12,330 in cash assistance.
“This financial support is aimed at assisting them with their daily needs and consumption. This is also a response to the agency's efforts to aid in the early recovery of these affected families,” Laurio added.
DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications and spokesperson Romel Lopez said the ECT program serves as an adaptive strategy to bridge the gap between immediate disaster relief, humanitarian response, and early recovery support.
“The ECT offers essential cash aid for families in areas declared under a state of calamity,” he said.
On Friday, 881 families from Camalig, 883 families in Guinobatan, and 56 families in Ligao received ECT.
On Saturday, Oct. 14, 573 Daraga families and 908 Malilipot families will receive cash assistance, while on Sunday, 1,544 families in Santo Domingo and 444 families in Tabaco City will receive ECT.