In the spirit of the Holiday Season, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) coordinated with concerned local government units (LGUs) in bringing Christmas cheers to Mt. Kanlaon evacuees through simultaneous holiday-special activities in the evacuation centers in Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas).

Asst. Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Irene Dumlao said food distribution, gift-giving, fun-filled games, among other interactive activities for all ages, were held for the evacuees on December 24 and 25.

“We worked together to pool our resources to organize these activities so that we can bring in the spirit of Christmas to our Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) despite the challenging times,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD’s spokesperson, said on Thursday (December 26).

During the holidays, personnel of DSWD Field Offices (FO) 6 – Western Visayas and 7 – Eastern Visayas remained on duty to facilitate unhampered resource augmentation to LGUs and well-coordinated aid for IDPs, according to the DRMG official.

“This has been the protocol since Kanlaon erupted and raised its volcanic status to Alert Level 3. We make sure that even on weekends or holidays, our disaster response teams are on full-alert to swiftly address the needs of affected families and individuals,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

The DSWD has already provided humanitarian assistance worth over Php52 million to families affected by the volcanic activities of Mt. Kanlaon based on the December 26 (6:00 am) report of the Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC),

A total of 11,883 families have been reportedly affected, with 4,454 families or 14,186 individuals taking refuge in the 32 open evacuation centers.

“Rest assured that the DSWD will remain in close coordination with the concerned localities. We are not putting our guards down and will continue to extend all required assistance until our kababayans are able to return to their normal lives and the situation settles down,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said. (LSJ)

Tagalog Version

DSWD, LGUs nagpasaya sa Pasko ng mga Kanlaon evacuees

Isang masayang Pasko ang hatid ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)sa pakikipagtulungan na rin ng local government units (LGUs) sa mga evacuees ng Mt. Kanlaon.

Nagsagawa ng simultaneous holiday-special activities ang mga tauhan ng DSWD FOs Regions 6 (Western Visayas) at 7 (Central Visayas) sa mga apektadong pamilya ng naging pagputok ng bulkang Kanlaon.

Ayon kay DSWD Spokesperson Asst. Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Irene Dumlao nagsagawa ng food distribution, gift-giving, fun-filled games para sa lahat ng evacuees nitong December 24-25.

“We worked together to pool our resources to organize these activities so that we can bring in the spirit of Christmas to our Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) despite the challenging times,” sabi ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.

Gayundin, nanatiling naka-duty ang ilang personnel ng DSWD Field Offices (FO) 6 – Western Visayas and 7 – Eastern Visayas upang tuloy tuloy na makapaghatid ng tulong sa mga nangangailangan sa koordinasyon na rin ng LGUs.

“This has been the protocol since Kanlaon erupted and raised its volcanic status to Alert Level 3. We make sure that even on weekends or holidays, our disaster response teams are on full-alert to swiftly address the needs of affected families and individuals,” sabi pa ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.

Sa report, nakapamahagi na ang DSWD ng mahigit sa Php 52 million humanitarian sa mga pamilyang naapektuhan ng pagputok ng bulkan.

May kabuuang bilang naman na 11,883 families ang naitalang apektado kung saan 4,454 families dito o 14,186 individuals ang kasalukuyang nanunuluyan sa 32 open evacuation centers.

“Rest assured that the DSWD will remain in close coordination with the concerned localities. We are not putting our guards down and will continue to extend all required assistance until our kababayans are able to return to their normal lives and the situation settles down,” dagdag pa ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao . # (MVC)