The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has assured that relief assistance will continue to be provided to families affected by the Mayon Volcano’s unrest after receiving a donation of 300 metric tons of rice from the Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries on Thursday, Aug. 17.

DSWD-Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) Director Michael Cristopher Mathay said the rice donation will help significantly with the relief efforts and ensure that aid is given to Mayon evacuees.

“Fully provided that’s what Secretary RexGatchalian wanted and that warehouses of DSWD should always be filled with relief goods plus non-food items so that all is well for the Mayon evacuees while staying at temporary shelters,” Mathay said during the ceremonial turnover of donation at the Albay Provincial Agricultural Office.

The 10,000 bags of rice, each weighing 30 kilograms, will be distributed to the affected families in Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Tabaco City, Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, and Ligao City in Albay province.

Meanwhile, Mathay emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to deal with disasters, lauding the spirit of cooperation embodied in the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve Agreement and acknowledging the importance of global collaboration in addressing such disaster threats.

“The Philippine government, especially the DSWD, whose mandate is to provide immediate assistance to those affected by disasters, finds comfort in Japan’s continuous life-saving interventions. This donation ensures that the necessary nutritious support will reach the most vulnerable during these uncertain times,” he said.

To ensure that evacuees receive the rice donated by Japan, Mathay said the DSWD is working closely with the city or municipal social welfare and development officers to implement the distribution plan of rice according to evacuation centers.