Legazpi City—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol provided additional assistance to the local government units (LGUs) in the Albay province whose farmers have been affected by the dry spell brought by the El Niño.

DSWD Bicol distributed family food packs to the farmers in Pioduran, Guinobatan, Manito, Ligao City and Tabaco City who participated in DSWD’s Food-for-Work Program with a total cost of assistance of PhP1,191,762.40.

It was reported that the province of Albay was placed under the state of calamity last April 12, 2019.

Based on the June 11, 2019 DSWD disaster response report, a total of 16 cities/municipalities are affected in Albay.

On the other hand, DSWD Bicol has coordinated with Provincial Agriculture Offices and Municipal Agriculture Offices. It has also monitored disaster relief operations through its DSWD employees deployed at LGUs.

“We will provide relief augmentation to the other areas with dry spell in Bicol. As of now, we have PhP3 million standby funds and 23,274 family food packs in our regional warehouse,” Dir. Arnel Garcia said.

The local government units (LGUs) need to submit a project proposal and official list of El Niño-affected farmers to avail of the DSWD’s Food-for-Work. The DSWD field workers will facilitate the distribution of the relief goods after the proposed community work has been done by the target beneficiaries.