MAGUINDANAO EVACUEES Some of the families forced to flee their homes due to the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” (Nalgae) remain on Tuesday at Broce Central Elementary School of Peace in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao province, where the majority of the storm fatalities have been confirmed. —PPA POOL photo
MANILA, Philippines — There will be no more wastage of food packs for survivors of calamities, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Tuesday, citing audit reports that its relief goods last year either left to spoil or were destroyed by pests.
Edu Punay, the agency’s undersecretary for special projects, said there was enough aid for people affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng,” as Secretary Erwin Tulfo ordered the DSWD staff to closely monitor the distribution of both food and nonfood relief goods.
“We are very careful in handling, managing relief packages, especially in our warehouses,” Punay said on CNN Philippines’ “The Source.”
“These items are very well monitored to prevent similar incidents in the past; we will make sure this will not happen,” he said.
Spoiled, undelivered
In its audit report on the DSWD last year, the Commission on Audit noted that thousands of relief packs for victims of Typhoon “Ulysses,” which hit the country in November 2020, have either expired or destroyed by pests.
More than 21,000 items remained undistributed until the end of 2021, including powdered milk and chocolate, canned goods and medicines in bottles and tablets.
To avoid a repeat, Punay said the monitoring of relief distribution in Paeng-struck areas will be “extensive” to make sure all items are in good condition.
“We cannot afford to distribute expired food items because this is a basic survival issue,” he said. “We carefully monitor these items until the very last canned goods; we regularly check its expiration date.”
Aside from relief goods in kind, Punay said, the agency is prioritizing the distribution of cash aid. This includes burial assistance amounting to P10,000.To date, the DSWD has spent P6.9 million for Paeng victims, with P1.2 billion on standby until the end of the year or for other similar calamities.
Punay said floods in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) posed “logistical challenges” for the DSWD.
Cutting red tape
Also on Tuesday, President Marcos called on LGUs to do away with bureaucratic practices that might delay relief distribution.
In a briefing held in Maguindanao, the President recalled that victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” were first given tickets before they could secure relief goods.
“I went to the barangay captain and asked why there were tickets. He said: ‘Some might get two relief packs.’ But so what if they get two? Just give them everything; just give everything. Will those who received two food packs get rich? No, they will not,” Mr. Marcos he said.
“Let’s not mind the bureaucracy. Let’s just make sure the relief will reach the victims,” he said. “Let’s give what we have.”
Meds in relief packs
The President also ordered Tulfo to include medicines in DSWD relief packs. “[P]eople are also looking for medicines. That’s one aspect that we failed to focus on—the distribution of medicines,” especially for cough, runny nose and stomach problems, he said.
He said the government could partner with big drug companies so that the former could buy in bulk at a cheaper price.
The President also said the coordination between the national government and LGUs and BARMM “is something that we can improve on.”
“And the procedures, I know that you are just drawing up your procedures now. But you can see why this is so important,” he said.