ILOILO CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allocated P133 million to help victims of the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental.
SECRETARY Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) visits an evacuation center for victims of the Mount Kanlaon eruption in Negros Occidental province. (DSWD-6)
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the ceremonial distribution of aid including P597,800 worth of food packs and other non-items to 980 families.
“The assurance of our President is this: While you are here, the DSWD — our department —will continue to assist and support you, so please do not worry. The President specifically sent me here to check on your situation,” said Gatchalian on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
DSWD has food and non-food items worth P133.2 million in stock. It has a standby fund of P500,000.
Gatchalian spoke to evacuees at the La Castellana Elementary School.
He urged evacuees to heed the warning of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Office of Civil Defense, and local officials not to return to their homes for now as the risk is still there.
Gatchalian was accompanied by Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Diana Rose Cajipe, DSWD Regional Directors Arwin Razo and Shalaine Marie Lucero of Western Visayas and Central Offices, and Disaster Response Management Division chief Erlyn Garcia.