The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office for Bicol is now ready to release family food packs and financial assistance to the local government units in the earthquake-affected areas in Masbate.

Marygizelle Mesa, DSWD-Bicol spokesperson, in an interview on Wednesday said at least 2,000 family food packs will be transported to the tremor-hit province today.

“We are also preparing to send 10 tents and 10 rolls of laminated sacks for Cataingan,” she said, adding that there will be provision of “assistance to individuals in crisis situation (AICS) which is PHP10,000 for casualty as burial assistance and up to PHP10,000 for medical assistance that can be used for hospital bill or purchase of medicines, for those who were injured during the quake”.

DSWD-Bicol, through its municipal action team, also assisted LGUs in Masbate during a rapid assessment to gather accurate information on the extent of damage caused by the earthquake.

Likewise, Mesa said a cash assistance of PHP3,000 will be given to families validated with partially damaged houses, and PHP5,000 to those with totally damaged dwellings.

The 6.6-magnitude earthquake jolted Masbate and other parts of Bicol and the Visayas on Tuesday morning. (PNA)