The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has provided PHP4.07 million in emergency assistance to 353 families displaced by a massive fire that affected 260 homes in Sorsogon province.

In a report on Friday, DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio said he visited the affected families on Thursday to ensure the timely distribution of relief assistance in Barangay Banuyo, Pilar, Sorsogon.

The aid package included family food packs, hygiene kits, family kits, kitchen kits, sleeping kits, six-liter bottled water, 10-meter tarpaulin sacks, and malong blankets to address the urgent needs of the displaced families.

Laurio said the affected families are currently seeking temporary shelter at the Barangay Banuyo Covered Court and Bonifacio Covered Court.

He said the DSWD-Bicol conducted a comprehensive profiling of the fire victims using the Family Access Card for Emergencies and Disasters (FACED) form and initiated assessments in their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program to provide financial aid and relief support.

Laurio assured the displaced residents that the DSWD Bicol would continue to assist them in meeting their immediate needs and offer long-term support throughout their recovery process.

He underscored the department’s commitment to ensuring that all affected families get assistance.

“DSWD, in close collaboration with the local government of Pilar, remains dedicated to providing immediate and ongoing assistance to the fire-stricken families,” he said.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the full extent of the damage. (PNA)