The Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and ground personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are still on high alert after Mt. Bulusan erupted anew last Tuesday evening (April 29).

Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said Secretary Rex Gatchalian has instructed the agency’s Field Office 5–Bicol Region to work double time amid the consecutive volcanic activities.

“The DSWD Bicol Region’s logistics and relief supplies have already been prepositioned in areas affected by the last eruption,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the agency spokesperson, said on Wednesday (April 30).

On orders from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, Secretary Gatchalian flew to Sorsogon on Tuesday (April 29) to assure the provincial and local governments that the DSWD has prepositioned enough family food packs (FFPs) and other relief items in the Bicol Region.

Close to 180,000 boxes of FFPs have long been prepositioned in the region, in addition to the initial 20,000 FFPs distributed to the affected families in Sorsogon province where Bulusan volcano is located.

According to the DSWD spokesperson, the Department has, so far, provided Php15.7 million worth of humanitarian assistance consisting of food and non-food items to concerned LGUs for their affected constituents.

Based on the latest report of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC), a total of 20,996 families or 98,315 individuals in 65 barangays in the province have been affected by the volcanic activity.

“Currently, there are 339 families or around 1,271 persons taking temporary shelter at the four evacuation centers,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

The DSWD reminded affected citizens to continue to remain vigilant and use protective masks or wet cloths to prevent ash inhalation brought by the last eruption.