Albay: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the release of an additional 100,000 family food packs (FFPs) to the Bicol Region for Albay residents affected by Mayon Volcano's unrest. Gatchalian also directed DSWD 5 (Bicol) Director Norman Laurio to distribute ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes to the affected families.

According to Philippines News Agency, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group stated in a radio interview on Wednesday that Secretary Gatchalian has mandated an increase in prepositioned goods. The department aims to provide around 100,000 additional food packs to support the goods already in place. Dumlao emphasized that the department is on full alert, with both food and non-food items prepositioned in various warehouses across the Bicol Region.

As of Wednesday, DSWD-5 has secured more than 111,000 FFPs, approximately 16,500 RTEF boxes, and over 15,000 non-food items in warehouses throughout the region. The response comes after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised Mayon Volcano's status to Alert Level 3 on Tuesday. In response, Director Laurio spearheaded the distribution of 163 RTEF boxes to evacuees currently residing at Tagaytay Elementary School and Bariw Elementary School in Camalig, Albay.

To further support those affected, DSWD-5 has established 25 modular tents at the Buang Evacuation Center and Buang Covered Court in Tabaco City, Albay, specifically for evacuees living within the 6-kilometer radius permanent danger zone. Dumlao noted that the Bicol field office is maintaining close coordination with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and local chief executives to assess additional assistance needs for their constituents.