DARAGA, Albay – Some 400 families affected by Mt. Mayon’s volcanic activity received financial assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) joint distribution of the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) on Wednesday.

A total of P10,036,620.00 was disbursed to 408 family-beneficiaries from the towns of Daraga, Sto. Domingo, Camalig and Tabaco. The beneficiaries are those who were not forced to evacuate and remain in their homes.

The aid, which grants each family P24,660, aims to support residents’ daily needs as their livelihoods continue to be disrupted by threats of volcanic eruption.

Vice President Sara Duterte, who attended the joint distribution, thanked the beneficiaries for sparing time attending the event.

“Nagpapsalamat po ako sa oras ninyo na makasama ko kayo at makapagbigay po kami ng tulong pinansyal through the Department of Social Welfare and Development para sa mga apektado ng pagsabog ng bulkang Mayon na wala sa mga evacuation centers,” she told the beneficiaries.

She also thanked DSWD led by Sec. Rex Gatchalian for the partnership to reach out to the in-need Bicolanos.

Duterte also shared that OVP-Region V satellite office in Legazpi City is already open to public and will cater to the needs of indigent Bicolanos through its programs and projects.

Beneficiary Jennefer Manzano, 39, said the assistance would greatly help her family especially that she will be delivering a child this month and cannot go back to their home yet since the town is still placed under alert level 3.

On June 23, the OVP-Disaster Operations Center (DOC) conducted a five-day relief operations in 25 barangays in seven affected towns and cities, covering 5,390 families or 18,661 individuals.