LEGAZPI CITY (PIA5/Albay) -- The Provincial Government of Albay had a consultation meeting with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Saturday, June 10 regarding the raising of Alert Level 3 of the Mayon Volcano. The meeting was also attended by nine (9) other mayors from the municipalities affected by the current condition of Mayon.
Albay Gov. Edcel Grex Lagman said they have added strategies to sustain the basic and economic needs of Albayano evacuees.
‘’Habang nasa evacuation centers [we need] to make sure that the economy is still alive. Hindi natin pwedeng patayin ang economy just because mayroon tayong ganitong krisis,’’ Lagman said.
ANSWERED QUERIES | Depertment of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Abalos attends the press briefing with the local executives on June 10, Saturday at Gov. Guest House, Legazpi City, Albay.
Gatchalian gave reassurance during the press briefing regarding the backing of the national government.
‘’We are ready to handle this multiple calamities, we have to complement our efforts to the province para walang redundancies, and our efforts will not overlap,’’ Gatchalian said.
Capacitating the evacuees
Lagman said that they are implementing innovative approaches to make the evacuees productive during their stay in the evacuation sites.
‘’[We will] coordinate with Technical Education and Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) to give training to evacuees while they are staying at the evacuation centers,’’ Lagman cited.
‘’In Tabaco City, tinuturuan sila mag weave ng mga baskets, slippers etc. para engaged sila, [dahil] ayaw natin ng dole outs dito,’’ he added.
SUPPORT | The 4Ps beneficiaries from Ligao City installs vegetable community pantry at the Campsite Evacuation Center which aims to support the affected fmilies by the volcanic unrest. (Photo courtesy of CSWDO Ligao)
Assistance to farmers
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) OIC Maria Vivien Cea said that the provincial government of Albay will purchase vegetables from the local farmers for distribution to the evacuees.
‘’Kumbaga mag-bebenefit din yung mga local farmers, hindi lang tayo makatutulong sa evacuees kundi pati na rin sa livelihood ng mga local farmers pati fisherfolks, ‘’ Cea said.
Lagman said that they are now conducting inventory of affected farmers, specifically vegetable farmers, providing seeds to evacuees for farming within the evacuation centers and other similar assisrance.
‘’The provincial government has allocated P5 million for farmers. We will be buying vegetables from our farmers to be used for our distribution sa ating mga evacuation centers that can be bought at farmgate prices,’’ Lagman said during the press briefing today.
‘’Our commitment is fixed, [it is] to make lives as normal as possible for the evacuees,’’ Lagman said. (PIA5/Albay)
