President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. traveled to Albay on Wednesday to personally check on the plight of thousands of citizens displaced by the ongoing Mayon Volcano eruption and directed officials to prepare for 90 days of help, including food and non-food goods.
Marcos issued the order during a situational briefing in Legazpi City after Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. warned that Mayon's unusual behavior could endure for several months.
Presenting possible scenarios to the President regarding the Mayon, Solidum said that the length of the eruption will be in terms of months, and the people may have to stay for several months.
Based on the briefing, Marcos noted that 30% of Albay’s Quick Response Fund, or QRF, can only sustain assistance for 40 days with a budget of P30 million.
He stated that with 90 days as the working deadline, responsible authorities must establish how much financing and support are required right away.
Marcos said that Albay Governor Edcel Greco Lagman had already provided certain figures that would aid in the recalculation.
Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured that food supplies for over 153,000 people are ready to last 90 days, stating that the department has already delivered over 38,000 food packs.
However, the Chief Executive reiterated that the government also needs to provide cash assistance for the affected residents and instructed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to monitor the affected livestock for possible diseases such as African swine fever, or ASF.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the figure reflects 9,571 families from the Bicol area.
While 4,417 families, or 15,502 people, are seeking temporary shelter in at least 22 separate evacuation facilities.
The NDRRMC said that a total of 18 cities and municipalities have been declared disaster areas, with six localities suspending classes.
So far, more than P33.6 million in aid has been distributed to affected and displaced families or individuals in the form of food, family food packs, water, sleeping bags, and other essential necessities.
