Speaker approves P33 million aid to displaced residents near Mayon

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Martin Romualdez has approved the release of P33 million in “cash and in-kind” assistance to residents living near restive Mayon Volcano in Albay, particularly those evacuated from the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.

To ensure swift assistance, Romualdez, along with Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Rep. Jude Acidre, allocated P1 million in aid for each of the first three districts of Albay province.

This aid consists of P500,000 in cash and P500,000 worth of relief packs from Romualdez’s personal calamity funds as he expressed solidarity with the people of Albay.

“Mayon’s eruption is something that we cannot stop, but so is showing compassion to our countrymen when difficulties arise. Together, we will ride out this calamity,” the Speaker said partly in Filipino.

His office also coordinated with Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), aiming to secure P10 million in assistance for each district through the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

“We expect this assistance from the DSWD, along with our humble contribution, to ease the worries that our kababayans in Albay may have for the immediate future. We’re prepared to help what they need, even if this calamity goes on,” Romualdez said.

Meanwhile, Ako Bicol party-list has activated its volunteers and field staff throughout Region 5 to form teams dedicated to assisting in local disaster risk reduction and management operations, especially in evacuating residents and securing their livestock.

“We will help prepare and maintain evacuation centers. Our personnel will coordinate with the Bicol Regional Medical Center and local hospitals to ensure emergency supplies and health care frontliners are ready,” said Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.

In another development, Sen. Francis Tolentino proposed an innovative “adopt a livestock” program for various localities in Albay province.

Inspired by the success of a similar initiative during the Taal Volcano eruption in 2020, Tolentino seeks to relocate horses, cows and other livestock to safe areas for their well-being.

“The experience we had in the Taal eruption… the horses, the cows, what was done, were adopted by different places (safe but close) where they could be taken care of,” Tolentino, partly speaking in Filipino, said.

Tolentino was the overall on-site point person of the Duterte administration in the aftermath of the 2018 Mayon and 2020 Taal eruptions.

Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman welcomed Tolentino’s recommendation, recognizing its potential to alleviate overcrowding in evacuation centers.

“Senator Tolentino’s adopt-a-livestock program is a new concept, which I view as a good idea and a good solution to avoid overcrowding in the evacuation center,” said the governor.

Meanwhile, the Diocese of Legazpi has launched the “Simbahan Para sa Mayon Disaster Response” and Parish Disaster Response Committee to gather non-food donations benefiting those temporarily residing in evacuation areas.

“As of now, we are assisting in the mandatory evacuation of residents who are living within the six-kilometer danger zone. Our rapid field assessment in the affected areas is also ongoing,” Fr. Eric Martillano, director of the Legazpi Diocesan Social Action Commission (DSAC), said in an interview with Radio Veritas.

“As of now, initially, the needs in the evacuation areas are non-food items like sleeping mats and hygiene kits,” Matillano added.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised on June 8 the status of Mayon Volcano to Alert Level 3 after it showed an “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.”

Caceres Archdiocesan SAC Director Fr. Marc Real also said they are ready to extend help to the Diocese of Legazpi in its disaster response.

“We have this group chat at the Bicol Regional Social Action Center where we, the directors in the region, have our communication. As of now, we are still monitoring and waiting for the updates from the SAC-Legazpi,” said Real. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan