Ifugao LGU combined DSWD, Angat Buhay relief goods, says Tulfo

TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION Rocks and mud cover a portion of a washed-out road at Barangay Tam-an in Banaue, Ifugao, following Thursday’s flash flood spawned by heavy downpour due to the southwest monsoon. —PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BANAUE MUNICIPAL POLICE

MANILA, Philippines — Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo on Sunday clarified that it was the local government of Banaue, Ifugao that combined the relief items sent by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Angat Buhay and the ones sent by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for communities affected by flash floods and mudslides.

Tulfo was referring to a photo posted online by the Angat Buhay organization of former Vice President Leni Robredo that showed the NGO’s relief items next to boxes of relief goods from the DSWD — the photos were credited to a volunteer group.

Tulfo explained that the DSWD cannot distribute relief items through NGOs as it is “against the law.”

“Derecho po ang aming tulong sa mga tao sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga LGUs (our donations go straight to the public through their LGUs),” said the DSWD chief in a statement on Facebook.

According to Tulfo, an initial investigation revealed that it was the local government of Banaue, Ifugao that combined the Angat Buhay relief items and those sent by the DSWD before the photo was taken.

“Tila isinama daw ng lokal na pamahalaan ang donasyon ng Angat Buhay (nakasakay sa pick-up truck) sa mga food packs ng DSWD sa iisang warehouse ng LGU at kinuhaan ng litrato,” said Tulfo.

(It seems that the local government included the donation sent by Angat Buhay that were loaded in a pick-up truck along with the DSWD food packs in the same LGU warehouse, and then the photo was taken.)

INQUIRER.net has reached out to Angat Buhay for a comment but has yet to respond, as of posting.

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