First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos was joined by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian during an aid-giving activity on Saturday, 15 June, for families in Negros Occidental affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.

The First Lady distributed P17.5 million in cash assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) to some 1,752 families at P10,000 each. Food and non-food items were also given on top of the cash aid.

Of the total recipients, 1,500 were residents of La Castellana while the rest of the beneficiaries were from Bago City.

Joining the First Lady and DSWD chief were other top government officials, as well as DSWD executives, including Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina Romualdez, Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Diana Rose Cajipe, and Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Paul Ledesma.

DSWD Field Office-6 (Western Visayas) officials, led by Regional Director Carmelo Nochete, Assistant Regional Director for Operations (ARDO) Arwin Razo, Disaster Response Management Division Chief Erlyn Garcia, and Crisis Intervention Section Head Beverly Salazar, also attended the activity.