Bicol, Philippines – In addition to the immediate support provided by the Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) to six families affected by separate fire incidents in the provinces of Masbate, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V–Bicol Region also extended financial assistance to each affected families.

In the first weeks of September, 2025, DSWD Bicol responded promptly to fire incidents in the region. Through its Crisis Intervention Section (CIS), assistance was provided to each of these families, including financial aid and funeral assistance.

A total of Php45,000 in financial assistance were given to the families – Php40,000 of which were distributed to four fire-hit families whose houses were totally damaged by fire (Php10,000 each), and Php5,000 was given to the fire victim whose house sustained partial damages. These fire incidents occurred in Naga City, Municipality of Nabua, Calabanga, and Tinambac in Camarines Sur, and in Placer, Masbate.

Meanwhile, Php10,000 in funeral assistance was provided to the grieving family of a 61-year-old victim who passed away due to the fatal fire incident in Barangay Abuyog, Sorsogon City on September 1, 2025. All of the fire-hit families were also provided with psychosocial support by the attending CIS social workers to help them cope and recover from the traumatic incident.

In an interview with one of the affected families, John Paul Gabatin, 21, expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards the Agency.

“𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘰 𝘱𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘋𝘚𝘞𝘋, 𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢 𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘺𝘰 𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨-𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘸-𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘥. 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰 𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨-𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘰 𝘯𝘢 𝘱𝘰 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘱𝘰 𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨. 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘰 𝘋𝘚𝘞𝘋,” he said.

Prior to this financial aid, a total of Php40,937.38 worth of essential food and non-food items were given by the DRMD responders to the impacted families to help them address their basic needs.

This response, headed by DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman S. Laurio reaffirmed the Agency’s continuous mandate of delivering compassionate, and timely assistance to Bicolanos in crisis.

Under Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s leadership, DSWD ensures prompt response to disasters and emergencies, reflecting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s directives ensuring accessible, efficient public service for every Filipino in need. ###