Aid given to Kanlaon eruption victims 'close to P20-M': DSWD

MANILA -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Sunday evening that the aid it has given to victims of the recent Kanlaon eruption is now "close to P20 million."

"Ang total cost of DSWD's humanitarian assistance ay nagkakahalaga na po ng close to P20 million. 'Yan ay in the form of family food packs and non-food items," DSWD Spokesperson Asec. Irene Dumlao said in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo's Story Outlook.

"Ang non-food items po ay kinabibilangan ng family kits, hygiene kits, modular tent, and sleeping kits. Ito (cost) ay lumaki din dahil dumami 'yung bilang ng inassist natin," she continued.

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Dumlao also said that based on their monitoring, 26 barangays in Regions 6 and 7 were affected by Mt. Kanlaon's eruption.

"Total number of affected families nasa mahigit 10,700. That's an equivalent of more than 43,000 individuals," she said.

When asked on how the recent cut in their proposed budget of 2025 would affect future relief operations, Dumlao said that it would be best to just wait for the final budget before they adjust to it.

Another Kanlaon eruption is possible, Phivolcs says

DSWD still has around P2-B in standby funds, stockpiles