The Department of Social Welfare and Development is readying 3,000 family tents that will be used by possible evacuees coming from the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone designated by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

On Friday (June 9), 26 families living in Sitio Nagsipit in Barangay Mariroc, Tabaco City were evacuated from their residence which is within the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone.

DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio said the forced evacuation was facilitated by barangay officials of Mariroc and the Tabaco City government. The affected residents are now being sheltered at the Pawa evacuation center,

Assistant Secretary Marlon Alagao of the DSWD Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) said the 3,000 family tents will be used by the projected 15,000 families living in the expanded 8-10 kilometer danger zone.

“The deployment of big family tents was specifically requested by Legazpi City Mayor Carmen Geraldine B. Rosal in case of evacuation since Legazpi barangays are located within the 8-10 kilometer danger zone,” Asst. Secretary Alagao said.

The DRMG assistant secretary said that on top of the 54,000 family food packs already pre-positioned in Albay province, an additional 68,000 FFPs will be sent by the DSWD Central office based on the target of 102,000 FFPs for the province where Mt. Mayon is located.

In his Facebook post, Governor Lagman thanked Secretary Gatchalian for providing Albay with all the needed food items that have been prepositioned to the warehouse provided by the provincial government of Albay.

“I was also very happy when Sec. Rex informed me that Albay will receive One Hundred Two Thousand (102,000) FFPs. Salamat po, Sec. Rex,” Gov. Lagman said.

Asst. Sec. Alagao said the evacuation centers are now being readied by the different local government units (LGUs) in Albay since they are the ones on the ground and they are in the position to determine how many centers will be on stand-by.

“Aside from the FFPs, the DSWD Central Office will also distribute non-food items such as kitchen kits and hygiene kits for families who will be sheltered in the tents and evacuation centers,” the DRMG Asst. Secretary said.

“Augmentation from other neighboring field offices is also an option to intensify support on the massive needs of food and non-food items,” Asec. Alagao added.

DSWD FO V Director Laurio earlier reported that he visited the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) and Haven for Women and Girls in Barangay Nasisi, Ligao City to check on their contingency plan and readiness for the Mayon eruption.

Director Laurio noted that during the 2018 eruption, the occupants of the RSCC and Haven and the immediate community were evacuated due to the heavy ashfall since Ligao City is within the 10-kilometer danger zone.

“They have conducted a drill for possible evacuation. They have Go Bags for the residents and they have already coordinated with the possible evacuation site. I reminded them to take extra care in handling the residents and that they should be separated from other evacuees. Two ambulances are on standby for mobility and still instructed them to coordinate with LGU Ligao for transport just in case evacuation is required,” the FO V director reported to the Central Office.

The 2018 Mayon eruption lasted 2 months and 16 days, from Jan. 13, 2018 until March 29, 2018, with the total number of families affected pegged at 23,786 and were given temporary shelter in 96 evacuation centers.

The total FFPs provided by DSWD to the affected families in 2018 was placed at 179,428 FFPs.

A total of nine cities and municipalities in Albay province were affected by the 2018 eruption. These include Camalig (3,237 families in 14 affected barangays); Daraga (3,482 families in 6 barangays; Guinobatan (3,693 families in 7 barangays); Ligao (1,411 families in 5 barangays); Malilipot (1,349 families in 3 barangays); Tabaco City (1,940 families in 9 barangays); Sto. Domingo (3,932 families in 7 barangays); Legazpi City (4,603 families in 9 barangays) and Bacacay (139 families in 1 barangay).#