DSWD Regional Office 5 released a total of 59,294,970.00 to 4,809 affected families inside evacuation of the seven (7) affected municipalities, namely, Camalig (886), Daraga (586), Guinobatan (894), Ligao City (57), Malilipot (838), Santo Domingo (1,544), and Tabaco City (444), in its simultaneous payouts conducted last July 14-16, 2023.

Each displaced and affected family whose livelihood was disrupted due to the Mayon unrest, received 12,330.00 each for their daily consumption on top of the family food packs regularly provided to them, and the 5,000.00 cash aid given by DSWD Bicol through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

There are still 440 affected families yet to receive their cash aids under the ECT program scheduled on July 20, 2023. A total of 5,249 beneficiaries are covered by this cash transfer with a total amount of 64,720,170.00.

The Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) is an adaptive strategy of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in bridging the gap between immediate disaster relief, humanitarian response and early recovery support in disasters and emergency by providing unconditional cash assistance to disaster-affected families.

The ECT for the Mayon Volcano affected population is through the directives of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian who gave tall orders that no affected family shall be left out.

In one of his messages during an ECT payout, RD Norman Laurio told the evacuees how the government under the leadership of PBBM, is really looking into their welfare, making sure that there is enough food and other basic necessities, non-food items such as sleeping and hygiene kits, and cash to support for their daily needs. “Lahat pong apektadong pamilya ay mabibigyan lalong lalo na ang mga naapektuhan ang kanilang mga hanapbuhay sa danger zones ng Bulkang Mayon, Wala pong magugutom na pamilyang Bicolano. Lahat ay ating kakalingahin hangang kayo ay makabalik sa inyong normal na pamumuhay.”