More than 400 families affected by Mayon Volcano's restiveness received financial assistance from the government,  the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) said. Beneficiaries of cash assistance in Albay amid Mayon Volcano unrest (Photo courtesy of OVP)
Over P10-million cash aid was distributed to 408 families through  emergency cash transfer (ECT) on Wednesday, July 19. The family-beneficiaries were from the towns of Daraga, Sto. Domingo, Camalig and Tabaco. They are those who were not forced to evacuate, and remained in their homes, OVP said. The distribution of assistance was conducted by the OVP and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The aid, which grants each family P24,660, aims to support residents’ daily needs as their livelihoods continue to be disrupted by threats of volcanic eruption. During the joint distribution, Vice President Sara Duterte shared that OVP-Region V satellite office in Legazpi City is already open to the public and will cater to the needs of indigent Bicolanos through its programs and projects. Beneficiary Jennefer Manzano, 39, said the assistance would greatly help her family especially that she will be delivering a child this month and cannot go back to their home yet since the town is still placed under alert level 3. On June 23, the OVP-Disaster Operations Center (DOC) conducted five-day relief operations in 25 barangays in seven affected towns and cities, covering 5,390 families or 18,661 individuals.