ALBAY lawmakers have thanked Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez for their efforts in assisting the evacuees of the ongoing Mayon Volcano situation.

In separate statements Wednesday, Rep. Joey Salceda and Rep. Fernando Cabredo of Albay’s 2nd and 3rd district, respectively, thanked the officials for not leaving their constituents behind even as they continue to grapple with the restive volcano.

It was last Monday, June 12 when Lagman thanked Speaker Romualdez and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian “for ensuring the timely assistance to evacuees and other affected families in the wake of Mayon’s volcanic outbursts”.

The Speaker’s office and Tingog Party-list–though their coordination with DSWD– earlier announced P33 million worth of assistance to the first three congressional districts of Albay.

The assistance will take the for of cash and relief packs.

“I have already requested for DOLE-TUPAD (Department of Labor and Employment-Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) support from Speaker Romualdez, who has assured us that he will do whatever he can to provide what Albay needs to endure this situation,” Salceda said, referring to a cash-for-work program.

“He (Romualdez) has already given us very significant assistance. We are very thankful,” added Salceda.

Also on Wednesday, a Facebook post from Cabredo bared how he personally sought financial aid from Romualdez so it could be given to evacuees who were displaced from their livelihood.

“Speaker Romualdez immediately granted the request and appropriated funds through the DSWD Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. Each family received P5,000 cash assistance to support their daily needs while temporarily settled in the evacuation centers,” the post read.

“Labis ang ating pasasalamat (We are very thankful),” Cabredo was quoted as saying in a news report, referring to the release of the cash assistance.

Meanwhile, reports coming from the Speaker’s office said that 1,420 relief packs have been released each to districts one and two, while the same number of relief packs are being readied for district three.

The assistance package, which was put together by the Office of Speaker Romualdez and Tingog Party-list, consists of P1 million (P500,000 in cash and P500,000 worth of relief packs) from Romualdez and Tingog and P10 million worth of payouts from DSWD’s AICS for each of Albay’s first three districts.