Albay lawmakers on Wednesday expressed their gratitude to Speaker Martin Romualdez and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, for their efforts in assisting the evacuees affected by the Mayon Volcano’s ongoing restive activity.

In separate statements, Albay Representatives Joey Salceda (2nd District) and Fernando Cabredo (3rd district) thanked the officials for not leaving their constituents behind even as they continue to grapple with the restive volcano.

“I have already requested for DOLE-TUPAD (Department of Labor and Employment-Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) support from Speaker Romualdez, who has assured us that he will do whatever he can to provide what Albay needs to endure this situation,” Salceda said, referring to the cash-for-work program.

“He (Romualdez) has already given us very significant assistance. We are very thankful,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Facebook post from Cabredo bared how he personally sought financial aid from Romualdez so it could be given to evacuees who were displaced from their livelihood.

“Speaker Romualdez immediately granted the request and appropriated funds through the DSWD Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. Each family received PHP5,000 cash assistance to support their daily needs while temporarily settled in the evacuation centers,” the post read.

“Labis ang ating pasasalamat (We are very thankful),” Cabredo said in a news report, referring to the release of the cash assistance.

Last Monday, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman thanked Romualdez and Gatchalian “for ensuring the timely assistance to evacuees and other affected families in the wake of Mayon’s volcanic outbursts”.

The Speaker’s office and Tingog Party-list, through their coordination with DSWD, earlier announced PHP33 million worth of assistance to the three congressional districts of Albay. The assistance is in the form of cash and relief packs.

Meanwhile, reports from the Speaker’s office said that 1,420 relief packs have been released each to the First and Second district, while the same number of relief packs are being readied for the Third district.

The assistance package consists of PHP500,000 worth of relief packs from the Office of the Speaker, PHP500,000 from Tingog Party-list, and PHP10 million worth of payouts from DSWD’s AICS for each of Albay’s first three districts. (PNA)

Photo credit: Office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez