Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has assured the Mt. Bulusan evacuees that the agency is ready to provide them with long-term assistance in the event that the volcano’s restiveness becomes protracted.
“In that eventuality, halimbawang lumala o nagkaroon ng mas malalang epekto, sinisigurado ng DSWD, sa utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na walang victim o affected family na magugutom,” Secretary Gatchalian said in a press conference at the Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (SPDRRMO) on Tuesday (April 29).
The DSWD chief cited previous situations wherein the agency distributed long-term assistance to locals affected by disasters such as the eruption of Mt. Mayon and Mt. Kanlaon, and the oil spill brought by a sunken motor tanker in Oriental Mindoro last 2023, which lasted between four and five months.
“Inutusan din tayo ng Pangulong Marcos ng Round 2 ng assistance kapag lumalala ang isang disaster, bagyo man yan, oil spill o bulkan. Kapag lumala iyan at tumagal dapat may financial assistance,” Secretary Gatchalian told local reporters.
According to Secretary Gatchalian, the distribution of financial aid is necessary to help address the varied survival needs of affected families such as the purchase of medicines and other health care needs that are not included in family food packs (FFPs).
Secretary Gatchalian reiterated that the DSWD is responsible for the provision of early recovery assistance to help the affected population to repair their damaged shelter or to jumpstart their sources of income.
“Mayroon kaming experience nyan sa Mindoro kung saan yung livelihood ng fishermen kailangan i-jumpstart ulit. So, after four months, ang itinulong natin sa kanila roon ay kung paano sila makakabalik sa pangingisda ulit… gasoline money ang binigay natin sa kanila kasi yun yung puhunan nila sa kanilang negosyo,” the DSWD chief told members of the press.
The DSWD’s Field Office 5 -Bicol Region, meanwhile, will continue ensuring the timely release of assistance to families affected by the Mt. Bulusan unrest, according to Regional Director Norman Laurio. (AKDL)