Escudero warns of ‘full blown humanitarian crisis’ in Davao City

Senator Francis Escudero: No to Associate Justice Brion’s request. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A “full blown humanitarian crisis” in Davao City is in the offing if the Department of Social Welfare and  Development (DSWD)  will continue to be ‘”slow” in responding to the needs of typhoon victims there, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero warned on  Wednesday.

Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, said the situation in Davao City has the “potential of becoming a full blown humanitarian crisis if the agency continues to be slow in responding to the concerns of the typhoon victims.”

“Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman should immediately look into the root cause of the desperate actions of the Davao residents to prevent the critical situation in the province from worsening,” he said in a statement.

An angry mob ransacked Tuesday morning the DSWD regional office in Davao City and carted away relief goods intended for the typhoon victims. The protesters forcibly opened the gate at around 10:30 a.m. and looted sacks of pre-packed relief good and boxes of coffee and instant noodles.

Escudero said the incident could have been avoided had the DSWD acted early on in arranging a dialogue with the protesters.