Relief goods from the Office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-lists are delivered to Albay residents affected by the Mayon Volcano’s recent activities.| PHOTO: Office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
MANILA, Philippines — The first, second, and third district of Albay would receive a combined P33 million worth of assistance as residents grapple with Mayon Volcano’s recent activities, House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez announced on Wednesday.
Romualdez’s office in a statement said the Speaker and Tingog party-list have coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the provision of the aid to the Albay districts.
Around 1,420 relief packs have been released each to Albay’s 1st and 2nd Districts, while a similar number of relief packs are being readied for the 3rd District.
“The Speaker’s office and Tingog Party-list — though their coordination with DSWD — earlier announced P33 million worth of assistance to the first three congressional districts of Albay. The assistance (will be composed of) cash and relief packs,” the office said.
The assistance package consists of P1 million (P500,000 in cash and P500,000 worth of relief packs) from Romualdez and Tingog, and P10 million worth of payouts from DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).
Albay lawmakers have separately expressed their gratitude already to DSWD and to Romualdez for coordinating with DSWD regarding the provision of social aid.
“I have already requested for DOLE-TUPAD (Department of Labor and Employment-Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) support from Speaker Romualdez, who has assured us that he will do whatever he can to provide what Albay needs to endure this situation,” Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda said.
“He (Romualdez) has already given us very significant assistance. We are very thankful,” he added.
READ: Salceda appeals to nat’l gov’t: Please be patient as Mayon activity can be weeks, months
Romualdez’s office relayed that Albay 3rd District Rep. Fernando Cabredo also thanked the House leader for his actions.
“Speaker Romualdez immediately granted the request and appropriated funds through the DSWD Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. Each family received P5,000 cash assistance to support their daily needs while temporarily settled in the evacuation centers,” the post read.
“Labis ang ating pasasalamat (We are very thankful),” he added.
Also last Monday, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman lauded Gatchalian and Romualdez’s efforts in helping Albay.
“I thank Speaker Martin Romualdez and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian for ensuring the timely assistance to evacuees and other affected families in the wake of Mayon’s volcanic outbursts. The people of the First District of Albay join me in expressing our deep appreciation for their prompt and generous assistance in our time of need,” Lagman said.
Mayon Volcano has been placed on Alert Level 3 due to heightened activities like rock falls and steaming — both of which can be an indication of increased magma flow to the crater.
Over the past few days, observers have monitored lava coming out of Mayon’s famous near-perfect cone, sending people into sleepless nights.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), at least 14,000 individuals in Albay’s six municipalities have been evacuated in the wake of Mayon’s activity, and are staying in 22 evacuation centers across the province.