Bulusan-hit families get DSWD food packs, hygiene kits worth P390K

Government soldiers assist evacuees as they prepare to go home to Barangay Puting Sapa in Juban, Sorsogon,
on Wednesday, three days after the eruption of Mt. Bulusan. —PHOTO COURTESY OF SORSOGON PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has so far distributed over P390,000-worth of food packs and hygiene kits for individuals and families affected by the recent eruption of Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the aid was mostly given to families currently staying in evacuation centers due to the eruption.

“Patuloy ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng ating mga personnel on the ground sa mga local social welfare officers upang malaman natin kung ano pa yung mga karagdagang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga pamilyang naapektuhan at makapagpaabot tayo ng karagdagang tulong kung kinakailangan,” she said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(Our personnel on the ground are coordinating with local social welfare officers for us to know the additional needs of affected families so we can send help.)

She assured that the DSWD office in Sorsogon has enough resources to aid the affected families.

Dumlao said the DSWD in the Bicol Region has over P5 million worth of food items in its stockpile as well as standby funds.

The whole of the DSWD also has stockpiles and standby funds amounting to P1.6 billion. Of the amount, P611 million will come from the DSWD central office and P1 billion is from its field offices.

“Kung sapat ‘yung ating resources para sa pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan na naapektuhan ng pagputok ng mt bulusan, handa ang DSWD,” she said.

(If our resources are enough to help those affected by the Mt. Bulusan eruption, the DSWD is ready.)

Mt. Bulusan erupted on Sunday morning, with steam-rich gray plumes rising about a kilometer and raining down ash on several villages in the province.

/MUF