The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office V – Bicol Region promptly extended assistance to five families affected by a fire incident in Barangay Bagumbayan, Daraga, Albay, earlier this afternoon, April 9, 2025.
With the directive of DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio, the Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) immediately delivered essential relief aid to the affected families, whose homes were severely damaged by the blaze that broke out around 4:30 PM.
The Field Office provided food and non-food relief items amounting to over PHP 50,000. Each family received family food packs, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, family kits, sleeping kits, collapsible water containers, six-liter bottled water, and laminated sacks to address their immediate needs.
According to the initial report from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Daraga, the residential building where the affected families lived was completely destroyed. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire and the actual extent of the damage.
In addition to relief aid, technical assistance was also provided to help the families process the documentary requirements needed for financial assistance worth PHP 10,000 each under the DSWD Bicol’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
DSWD Bicol is also coordinating with the Local Government of Daraga and other national government agencies to ensure that other necessary support will be extended to the affected families.
This initiative is in line with the directive of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian to deliver swift and comprehensive aid to individuals and families affected by disasters and emergencies across the region.
Source: DSWD Bicol