CONCERNS OVER SPOILAGE The Commission on Audit took 238 pages to report how relief goods stored by Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) have become highly exposed to rats, cockroaches and large-scale spoilage. This picture shows DSWD’s National Resource Operations Center in Pasay city during a calamity response operation. (Photo from NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)
MANILA, Philippines — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Thursday ordered an inspection of the department’s National Capital Region (NCR) warehouse in Pasay city.
The facility was recently flagged by state auditors for being dirty and disorganized.
According to DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Romel Lopez, Gatchalian directed Field Office-NCR Director Michael Joseph Lorico to personally inspect the warehouse.
“The words ‘state of disrepair’ and ‘lack of cleanliness and organization’ are not acceptable to the DSWD’s manual of housing relief items in any of our warehouses or facilities,” he said in a statement.
READ: Rats! COA report bares state of DSWD warehouse
“Rest assured that the DSWD management is already looking into this concern to fast-track the apply the [fast-track the application of] necessary changes to improve the stockpiling, cleanliness, and condition of the NCR warehouse,” he added.
In a special report made public on September 18, Commission on Audit (COA) observed the piling of stocks in the DSWD-NCR warehouse lacked system.
It also noticed the presence of cockroaches and rats, which might have led to the spoilage of relief goods.
READ: DSWD beneficiaries questioned by COA
The report also stated the storage facility showed visible signs of “wear and tear,” such as a defective door, broken windows, and damaged roofing.
Gatchalian also ordered Lorico “to sort out all relief supplies to ensure that no outdated items will be distributed to areas that will be hit by disaster or calamities,” the spokesperson said.
Moreover, DSWD is considering COA’s suggestion of conducting regular pest control activities and repairs to the facility’s damaged parts.