DARAGA, Albay – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has assured residents of this province affected by the Mayon Volcano unrest that the government is doing its best to provide their needs while at the evacuation centers.
Gatchalian visited evacuation centers in Albay on Saturday morning, June 10, and said that 102,000 food packs have been initially prepared for Bicol region and 16,000 for Albay.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian distributes relief goods to Mayon Volcano evacuees during his visit to an evacuation center in Barangay Anislag in Daraga town, Albay province on Saturday morning, June 10. (Niño N. Luces) "Initially, 100,000 na food packs ang nasa buong Region 5 (There is an initial 100,000 food packs for Region 5). Of which around 16,000 ang nasa Albay mismo (are in Albay) and easily the 40,000 we can pull out in the neighboring provinces," he sadi. Since Mayon Volcano won’t be going back to normal anytime soon and evacuation is protracted, Gatchalian said that DSWD is now stockpiling for future response. "Ito kasing mga sakuna na ito ay protracted, ibig sabihin hindi ito parang bagyo na after three days tapos na. Kausap ko nga mga local officials natin this can go as long as 45 to 90 days (Mayon Volcano is protracted unlike a typhoon which is over in three days. I had talked to local officials and they said this could go as long as 45 to 90 days)," he said. Gatchalian assured that aside from food packs, the DSWD will also give non-food items such as bedding materials and hygiene kits. "Una sa lahat, naatasan tayo ng Pangulo, President Bongbong Marcos, na siguraduhin na ‘yung preparation ng gobyerno, lalong-lalo na ‘yung DSWD ay in place. Actually hanggang kagabi and late last night he was giving instructions kasi he's been monitoring the situation in Mayon, Taal pati na rin itong bagyong ‘Chedeng’ (We were tasked by President Marcos to ensure government response, particularly the DSWD, is in place. I was in touch with the President last night and he was giving instructions about Mayon, Taal, including tropical cyclone Chedeng),” he added. Gatchalian said that he will talk to local officials in Albay to plan future actions on Mayon. Meanwhile, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jill Bongalon said that they are planning to enroll evacuees in the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment. "We will check ‘yung mga barangay na hindi pa nakaka-submit and we will give them the priority dito sa mga affected families. Hindi kasi eksakto dito, they are displaced. Meaning to say, habang wala sila dun sa mga lugar na may hanapbuhay sila sa loob ng six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone, puwede silang maging benepisyaryo para sa TUPAD program (We will prioritize displaced families. We will ensure that they have livelihood while they are out of livelihood inside the Permanent Danger Zone)," Bongalon said. Bongalon join Gatchalian in visiting evacuation centers visit on Saturday.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian distributes relief goods to Mayon Volcano evacuees during his visit to an evacuation center in Barangay Anislag in Daraga town, Albay province on Saturday morning, June 10. (Niño N. Luces) "Initially, 100,000 na food packs ang nasa buong Region 5 (There is an initial 100,000 food packs for Region 5). Of which around 16,000 ang nasa Albay mismo (are in Albay) and easily the 40,000 we can pull out in the neighboring provinces," he sadi. Since Mayon Volcano won’t be going back to normal anytime soon and evacuation is protracted, Gatchalian said that DSWD is now stockpiling for future response. "Ito kasing mga sakuna na ito ay protracted, ibig sabihin hindi ito parang bagyo na after three days tapos na. Kausap ko nga mga local officials natin this can go as long as 45 to 90 days (Mayon Volcano is protracted unlike a typhoon which is over in three days. I had talked to local officials and they said this could go as long as 45 to 90 days)," he said. Gatchalian assured that aside from food packs, the DSWD will also give non-food items such as bedding materials and hygiene kits. "Una sa lahat, naatasan tayo ng Pangulo, President Bongbong Marcos, na siguraduhin na ‘yung preparation ng gobyerno, lalong-lalo na ‘yung DSWD ay in place. Actually hanggang kagabi and late last night he was giving instructions kasi he's been monitoring the situation in Mayon, Taal pati na rin itong bagyong ‘Chedeng’ (We were tasked by President Marcos to ensure government response, particularly the DSWD, is in place. I was in touch with the President last night and he was giving instructions about Mayon, Taal, including tropical cyclone Chedeng),” he added. Gatchalian said that he will talk to local officials in Albay to plan future actions on Mayon. Meanwhile, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jill Bongalon said that they are planning to enroll evacuees in the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment. "We will check ‘yung mga barangay na hindi pa nakaka-submit and we will give them the priority dito sa mga affected families. Hindi kasi eksakto dito, they are displaced. Meaning to say, habang wala sila dun sa mga lugar na may hanapbuhay sila sa loob ng six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone, puwede silang maging benepisyaryo para sa TUPAD program (We will prioritize displaced families. We will ensure that they have livelihood while they are out of livelihood inside the Permanent Danger Zone)," Bongalon said. Bongalon join Gatchalian in visiting evacuation centers visit on Saturday.