The DSWD has released ₱65 million in assistance for residents displaced by Mayon Volcano’s prolonged unrest, as Albay braces for more ashfall damage, possible evacuations and lahar threats during the rainy season.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian visited Guinobatan, Albay, where he led the distribution of emergency cash transfers to more than 2,000 farmers from Guinobatan and Camalig. The farmers were affected by heavy ashfall on May 2, which covered farmlands and disrupted livelihoods. Gatchalian said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive was clear: the government must closely monitor Mayon because the situation remains an “ongoing disaster concern.” “Hindi siya yung parang lumilipas. It’s a protracted incident. So yung response has to be commensurately protracted din,” Gatchalian said.
The DSWD said it is preparing for worsening conditions if volcanic activity intensifies. The agency is ready to assist in transferring families from danger zones to evacuation centers, especially as the rainy season increases the threat of lahar flows in vulnerable communities. Gatchalian said the DSWD has previously managed prolonged disaster operations, including the continuing unrest of Mt. Kanlaon and the six-month Mindoro oil spill response. He said the agency’s experience centers on “making sure nga na we sustain the efforts until the farmers, affected families get back on their feet.”
The department reported monitoring 1,132 families, or 4,106 individuals, staying in 12 evacuation centers, along with 26 families, or 85 individuals, staying outside evacuation facilities. More than 70,000 families, or around 286,000 individuals, have been affected by Mayon’s intensified activity.
The DSWD has distributed 100,257 family food packs, 1,402 boxes of ready-to-eat food and 7,634 non-food items. It has also provided ₱56,856,500 in cash assistance through crisis aid, emergency cash transfers and cash-for-work programs, while maintaining a stockpile of 4,696,978 family food packs nationwide and standby funds exceeding ₱1.2 billion to sustain support if Mayon’s unrest continues.
