The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 5 in Bicol has intensified relief operations for families displaced by Mayon Volcano’s continuing unrest, including those affected by pyroclastic density currents in Albay on May 2.

DSWD-Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the regional office has distributed 59,153 family food packs, along with hot meals and hygiene kits, to affected residents in Tabaco City, Camalig, and Malilipot in Albay as of 5 a.m. on Sunday, May 3.

“Nakikipagtulungan po ang DSWD sa mga non-government organizations at sa mga lokal na pamahalaan na apektado ng Mayon Volcano unrest. Nagpamahagi na po ng food and non-food items ang ahensya, at nag-deploy na rin po kami ng aming Mobile Kitchen para magbahagi ng hot meals para sa mga apektadong mga kababayan (The DSWD is coordinating with non-government organizations and local government units affected by the Mayon Volcano unrest. The agency has already distributed food and non-food items, and we have also deployed our Mobile Kitchen to provide hot meals to affected residents),” Dumlao said.

Aside from immediate relief, DSWD has also partnered with Bicol University and the UN Youth Association to provide psychosocial support for displaced families, particularly children.

Activities include film showings, games, and other recreational and educational sessions aimed at easing stress among evacuees.

Likewise, DSWD has rolled out livelihood assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs) whose income sources have been disrupted by the volcano’s continued unrest.

“Dahil nga po sa Alert Level 3 na itinaas last April, nagbigay po ang DSWD ng emergency cash transfer at cash-for-work interventions para sa mga pamilyang nasa six-kilometer permanent danger zone (Due to Alert Level 3 raised last April, the DSWD provided ECT and CFW interventions for families within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone),” Dumlao said.

On April 30, about 1,105 IDP families from four municipalities in Albay received ECTs.

Meanwhile, 1,317 affected families from Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Malilipot, Ligao City, and Tabaco City participated in the CFW program, which provided temporary income through community-based activities.

The program also supported 2,169 farmers whose livelihoods were affected by restrictions within the permanent danger zone.

DSWD said it has also deployed water tanks in coordination with local government units to address water needs amid rising temperatures.

Child- and women-friendly spaces in evacuation centers are likewise being reinforced to ensure proper insulation and safer conditions for evacuees.

As of May 3, a total of 1,438 families or 5,440 individuals are staying in 14 evacuation centers across Albay.

To date, DSWD has provided more than ₱71.6 million in humanitarian assistance, including food packs, cash-for-work payouts, emergency cash transfers, and assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program for families affected by Mayon’s ongoing unrest.

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