DSWD spends over P328-M aids for Mayon evacuees
By Rhaydz Barcia
LEGAZPI CITY --- For seven months eruption of Mayon Volcano, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol spent over P328 million to sustain the needs and ensure the safety of the displaced families, Norman S. Laurio, DSWD regional director in Bicol, said.
A total of ₱324,453,325.56 worth of assistance was provided to the affected families, of which ₱ 310,869,340.14 from DSWD; ₱ 2,303,828.83 from local government units (LGUs); ₱ 983,904.00 from NGOs; and ₱ 10,296,252.59 from other partners, agencies, and private sectors, Laurio said.
He said that the more than P300 million was used for food, non-food and cash provisions for displaced families affected by the Mayon Volcano eruption which lasted for seven months, considered as the longest stay of the 1,131 families in the temporary shelters from the municipalities of Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Malilipot, and the two cities of Ligao and Tabaco.
The DSWD recorded at least 71,552 families or 293,975 persons from 159 barangays and 9 municipalities in Albay during the first salvo of Mayon volcano restiveness.
During the course of seven months’ stay of displaced families due to Mayon Volcano eruption, 1,131 families or more than 4,000 persons reside temporarily in the tent city, school classrooms while 42 families or 140 persons temporarily stay with their relatives or outside the evacuation camps.
The department provided 166,785 Family Food Packs (FFPs) amounting to ₱96,345,106.01. It said that the DSWD through the DRMD - Regional Resource Operations Section (RROS) has stockpiles and standby funds amounting to ₱293,361,458.73.
Laurio said that the DSWD regional office continues to implement comprehensive disaster response operations and in strict adherence to Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s directives, ensuring all services and assistance of the department to ensure that all evacuation camps are conducive for the long stay of the affected families.
Gatchalian personally visited the Mayon evacuees several times to bring their much-needed financial assistance and checked on their living conditions inside the evacuation.
During the course of stay of the evacuees, the DSWD Bicol extended assistance to over 6,411 farmers through the conduct of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) from May 12-14, 2026.
The ECT Payout was also conducted on April 30, 2026 to 1,105 IDPs of the 4 Municipalities of Albay affected by Mayon Unrest. The total assistance amounted to P131,608,950.00.
Cash-for-Work programs at least 1,318 affected families launched in Camalig, Daraga, Malilipot, Ligao City, and Tabaco City, providing temporary income opportunities for hundreds of disaster-affected individuals through community work.
The CFW program employed 2,169 affected farmers whose livelihood are inside the 6km Permanent Danger Zone, posing challenges to their source of income wherein total assistance amounted to P47,449,800.00.
In support of the displaced families’ transition from evacuation centers to their respective communities during the decampment process, the DSWD will provide FFPs to help meet their immediate food needs and facilitate their safe and orderly return to their respective homes.
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