Cash Relief for Families Displaced by Philippines Volcano Eruption
On May 2, Mayon Volcano began erupting in the Philippines, sending ash plumes into the sky and forcing thousands of people to evacuate. More than 287,000 people have been displaced, with thousands of families staying in evacuation shelters. The volcano remains at an Alert Level 3, indicating a likely hazardous eruption that could devastate communities in the danger zone. Additional risks are looming as the rainy season brings the threat of lahars (fast-moving, destructive volcanic debris flows) and flooding.
We’re currently scoping a response to deliver cash to families who have evacuated from their homes. This emergency cash will help cover their immediate needs, such as:
- 🍛 Essentials like food and water
- 🏨 Shelter while evacuated
- 💳 Bills for healthcare as ash plumes pose health risks
Your donations will reach those in greatest need quickly and remotely.
Cash aid is fast and fully remote, reaching families via mobile money and letting them meet essential needs quickly. Receiving cash with no strings attached also lets families decide what they need rather than having others guess for them, which is why people impacted by crises consistently say they prefer cash relief over donated goods.
Achieving our current fundraising goal of $400,000 will enable us to reach hundreds of families in greatest need. We have the capacity to deliver much more, so with additional funds, we could expand to reach many more people.
GiveDirectly has delivered emergency cash in the Philippines before.
Last year, we responded to a devastating magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Northern Cebu, delivering emergency cash to 524 households and becoming the first NGO to ever deliver unconditional cash via mobile money in the Philippines. We’re building on that foundation now, using the tools and systems we developed there to respond even more quickly. Read about our earthquake response here.
This response is part of GiveDirectly’s emergency cash moonshot.
Our moonshot goal is to deliver emergency cash within five days of any crisis, anywhere in the world. That’s radically faster than the weeks or months families typically wait for traditional aid like food shipments. Learn more about our emergency cash moonshot here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive money?
We are targeting families displaced from communities within the danger zone around Mayon Volcano in Albay Province. Eligible recipients are Philippines nationals who have been evacuated from affected areas. We will enroll families digitally and verify eligibility during the process.
What if we raise more or less than our fundraising goal?
Any excess funds will help us deliver cash to more impacted families. If for any reason we are unable to deliver all funds to families impacted by this Philippines volcano eruption, donations will be delivered to survivors of the next emergency.
How much will each family receive?
Our current baseline is for each family to receive 11,500 Philippine pesos (approximately $190 USD), aligned with national cash working group guidance. We are assessing needs on the ground to determine if the amount should be larger, and we will update this page once confirmed. Funds will be delivered digitally through mobile money services widely used in the Philippines.
When will people receive my donation?
We aim to begin delivering payments in early June 2026. We will update this page with more details as confirmed.
What is GiveDirectly?
We’re a nonprofit that lets you send money directly to the world’s poorest, no strings attached. In the last decade, we’ve delivered cash to over 2 million people across 15 countries, and we research the impacts it can have for families in need.
What if I’d like to make a major gift?
We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible in the United States. We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, checks, wires, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and more.
If you’re giving outside the U.S., you can still give to this campaign, but your gift may not be tax-deductible. Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org with any questions or for more information on ways to give.