Mayon Volcano (File photo)
MANILA – The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Friday that some 9,947 families so far were affected by the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano in the Bicol Region (Region 5).
The number is equivalent to 38,391 persons residing in 26 barangays in Region 5.
Of this figure, the NDRRMC said 5,125 families or 18,584 individuals are sheltering in 27 evacuation centers while the remainder are being aided outside, or being sheltered by relatives and friends.
The numbers are still subject to change as validations are ongoing.
The assistance extended to Region 5 now amounted to PHP57,639,282.85 and these consists of assorted items like distilled water in six-liter bottles, family food packs, family kits, family tents, hygiene kits, laminated sacks, "malongs", modular tents, rice, sleeping bags and tarpaulins.
Earlier, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced that it has extended additional assistance to the provincial government of Albay, providing 3,200 sacks of rice and other relief items for the communities affected by the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano.
Albay Governor Edcel Lagman earlier received the supplies from Defense Secretary and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairperson Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and OCD administrator and NDRRMC executive director, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno.
OCD previously sent tarpaulin rolls, N-95 face masks, family food packs, hygiene kits, pelican cases, portable water filtration unit, and a water filtration truck to Albay to assist the residents in the affected areas.
From the previous PHP9.2 million cost of assistance, the overall worth of assistance provided by the agency is now at PHP13.6 million.
Teodoro emphasized the need for strengthened cooperation and coordination among government agencies to respond more effectively to the situation.
He also commended the smooth coordination between the province of Albay and national government agencies as facilitated by OCD-Bicol regional office.
Community pantry
Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Romualdez praised the "laudable initiative" of Albay 3rd district Rep. Fernando Cabredo to establish a community pantry for evacuees.
The Speaker's office was informed that Cabredo will use the PHP500,000 financial assistance he received from Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre to set up the community pantry.
"It's very heartwarming to see the return of the community pantry during this situation in Albay. Community pantries symbolized malasakit (compassion) and hope for Filipinos during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic," Romualdez said in a statement.
The community pantry initiative emerged at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to help the government address the growing needs of the vulnerable sectors.
As restrictions brought about by the pandemic stripped many Filipinos of their livelihood, kind-hearted citizens set up areas, even mere tables, and filled them with canned goods, fresh produce, water, toiletries and other basic necessities.
People could freely take whatever items they needed for that given day.
"We learned that Cong. Cabredo intends to buy vegetables from farmers affected by Mayon's outbursts and give these away for free to evacuees via the planned community pantry. This is definitely worth emulating as it would maximize the number of people who would benefit from this initiative," Romualdez said.
Aside from Cabredo, Romualdez and Tingog Party-list turned over the same amount to the offices of Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman and 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda.
The three lawmakers also received PHP500,000 worth of relief goods from Romualdez from his personal disaster relief fund.
Donations
Also on Friday, the Chinese Embassy in Manila announced a donation of PHP4 million worth of disaster relief supplies.
The donation was turned over by Embassy and Rear Admiral Su Yinsheng of the visiting Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy training ship Qi Jiguang to Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Thursday.
“Hearing that the intensified unrest of Mayon Volcano has caused thousands people being evacuated, we immediately raised more than 103 metric tons of rice and other food worth four million pesos to assist the affected people,” Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said.
The envoy said the food donation, consisting of rice, noodles, biscuits, and boxes of flour, were taken from the daily supply of the Qi Jiguang crew.
On top of this, Huang announced a PHP1 million donation to Cagayan to help residents affected by Typhoon Betty which brought strong winds and rains in Northern Luzon last week.
“China and the Philippines always share weal and woe. We hope the people in the disaster-hit areas could return to normal work and life as soon as possible,” Huang said in a statement.
Romualdez's office reported that it has already endorsed to the Department of Labor and Employment the release of PHP10 million for Salceda’s constituents via the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) cash-for-work program.
The Speaker's office and Tingog Party-list, through their coordination with DSWD, earlier announced PHP33 million worth of assistance to the three congressional districts of Albay.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday that the government will tap all its available resources to help the families displaced by Mayon Volcano’s restiveness. (with reports from Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
