The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government unit (LGU) of Malilipot, Albay have started the relocation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) staying in two public schools in the municipality to ensure a safer place for them amid Mayon Volcano’s continued unrest.

“Dahil nais po nating mabigyan ng mas kumportableng kundisyon ng pamumuhay ang mga displaced families na apektado ng pag-aalburoto ng Mayon, nagtulungan po ang DSWD Field Office (FO) 5 – Bicol Region at ang LGU ng Malilipot para mag-set up ng 131 tents sa newly-established Tent City ng munisipalidad (We want to give displaced families a more comfortable situation in life, that’s why our field office coordinated with the Malilipot local government to set up 131 tents in the Tent City of the municipality),” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said in a news release on Wednesday.

The DSWD spokesperson said more than 100 families staying at San Jose Elementary School and San Jose National High School were relocated to the Tent City for a more private, decent, and comfortable living space.

The transfer of the IDPs to the Tent City complies with the Department of Education (DepEd) protocol, limiting the use of public schools as temporary evacuation centers to 15 days.

“Nais po ng Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na hindi rin maantala ang pagkatuto ng mga estudyante sa apektadong lugar kaya’t ang isinagawang paglipat ay magbibigay daan para maipagpatuloy ang naantalang klase sa mga paaralan na ginawang pansamantalang evacuation centers (President Marcos also wants that student learning in affected areas should not be hampered. The relocation of IDPs from schools utilized as temporary evacuation centers means that students can now continue with their delayed classes),” Dumlao said.

She said the DSWD will continue helping the affected localities by providing assistance to their displaced constituents, including the provision of family food packs (FFP).

As of press time, the Department provided more than PHP14.2 million worth of humanitarian aid to Mayon-affected families.

The DSWD also deployed a mobile kitchen that regularly provides hot and nutritious meals to prevent the IDPs from having food pack fatigue.

It also conducts child-friendly psychosocial activities to help the children cope with stress while staying inside the evacuation centers.

Dumlao said the DSWD also conducts cash-for-work (CFW) to provide IDPs in the Tent City a temporary means of livelihood.

“The CFW beneficiaries engage in community-based work, such as road graveling, site cleaning, and basic facility repairs, among others,” she said. (PNA)