The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) has completed field assessments and distributed initial relief assistance to former rebels affected by the recent unrest of Mayon Volcano in the Bicol region.
The initiative followed the directive of Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento to conduct on-site validation and ensure that assistance reaches vulnerable communities impacted by the volcanic activity.
According to OPAPRU, teams coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), local government units, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other agencies to assess the condition of former rebels and their families in affected areas.
As of the latest report, nine former rebels affected by Mayon’s activity had already been visited and interviewed, while eight members of former rebel people’s organizations participated in consultation and assessment meetings with government agencies and the military.
Authorities said all affected individuals were accounted for and safe, with no reported casualties, major injuries, or significant property damage among the families monitored by the agency.
Mayon Volcano released heavy ashfall and pyroclastic density currents on May 2, affecting at least 52 barangays in Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City, Daraga, and Legazpi City, prompting emergency response and monitoring operations across Albay.
Sarmiento said the government’s response aims to ensure that former rebels undergoing reintegration are not left behind during emergencies and natural disasters.
“We need to determine their immediate needs and provide appropriate interventions to guarantee their safety, welfare, and recovery,” he said.
The peace adviser also stressed the importance of sustained field engagements and close coordination with local stakeholders to ensure government interventions translate into concrete support for communities vulnerable to both conflict and natural calamities.