A policeman pointing into a pit of allegedly rotten relief goods. DSWD now investigates the veracity of this photo. (DAGAMI PNP)
MANILA, Philippines — DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman assures the accountability of their provincial personnel for the rotten relief goods found in their Tacloban warehouse.
The secretary said, she ordered an investigation on how more than 200 sacks of family food packs were spoiled.
Soliman clarifies that the sacks do not only contain rice but also include milk, coffee and canned goods.
“Yun nga yung inaalam namin kung bakit hindi agad naipamigay. Pero ang isa kong alam na dahilan na binigay na sa akin nung regional director, huli nang dumating galing sa Cebu. Kasi ito yung inorder namin thru PITC.”
(That’s what we are investigating; why was it not distributed immediately. But a report from the regional director said that these arrived late from Cebu because it was ordered through PITC.)
The rotten relief goods which were buried without the secretary’s knowledge were discovered on November 26.
The spoiled items were supposed to be given to victims of Typhoon Rubi in Eastern Visayas in 2014.
The 2 identified personnel in Eastern Visayas were not yet suspended but will be penalized if proven that they neglected their duties.
Sec. Soliman said, “Yung merong responsibilidad kung paanong nangyari na hindi nakita na ito ay hindi na fit for human consumption, sya ay mananagot. Kami ay magpa file ng administrative case ayon sa civil service rules at kung anuman ang hahantung non ay mananagot sya.”
(Those responsible for overlooking the fact that these are not fit for human consumption will answer for it. We will file administrative cases in accordance with the civil service rules and they will face whatever the outcome will be.)
The secretary assures that the packaging of relief goods now are safer especially because they are using mechanized food repacking at the national resource operation center in Pasay.
It can have an output of 50 thousand packs of relief goods a day and lasts for up to 8-10 months before expiring.
Sec. Soliman stated, “Meron kaming hermetically sealed na bigas na nandoon sa kabilang warehouse para hindi inuuod at binubukbok.”
(We have hermetically sealed bags of rice in the other warehouse to avoid infestation.)
The National Resource Operation Center has about 130 thousand food packs. These are reserved for pre-positioning in case of calamities.
Meanwhile, a ground breaking ceremony was held for the construction of a new warehouse through the assistance of the Australian government. (REY PELAYO / UNTV News)
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