NGO, Tolentino ask DSWD: Draw up plan to prevent rice spoilage

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

With the discovery of thousands of sacks of rice and relief goods dumped in a remote barangay in Leyte, a concerned group and senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino are calling on the the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to draw up a plan that would prevent the recurring issue of food spoilage in the agency.

While the Filipino Alliance for Transparency and Empowerment (FATE) questioned the capability of the DSWD in distributing relief goods to families affected by disasters, senatorial candidate and disaster preparedness advocate Tolentino reiterated his call for the national government to empower the Local Government Units (LGUs) in disaster preparedness.

“Paulit-ulit na ang ulat ng mga nasisirang relief goods ngunit hanggang ngayon ay walang direktang pag-amin sa mga kinauukulan kung bakit hindi agad naipapamigay sa ating mga kababayan ang mga dapat na pangunahing pangangailangan. Lalo na tuwing may kalamidad,at libo-libo ang apektadong pamilya,” said FATE Secretary General Benjamin Peralta.

Peralta pointed out that the DSWD seemed to be incapable of handling the distribution aside from the donations given by private groups.

“Tama pa ba na ang DSWD ang humawak sa pag-aasikaso ng mga relief goods gayong lagi na lang naaaksaya at natatapon pag nabubulok na? Magaling lang silang tumanggap ng mga donasyon ngunit hindi nila yata alam kung paano makakarating ang mga tulong sa mga nasalanta,” he added.

The group noted that there should be a system in the distribution or let other people handle the job as what Tolentino has been advocating.

Former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Tolentino urged for an intensified cooperation among LGUs during onslaught of typhoons, calamities and disasters to effectively communicate preparations and operations from the national government down to the barangay level.

Tolentino stressed that there would be no food spoilage if communications between the national government and LGUs are properly coordinated.

“Logistically, alam din ng LGUs ang mga pasikot-sikot na lugar maging ang mga taong dapat kausapin kapag may mga evacuations, relief operations and distributions. They form an integral part sa mga calamities and disasters that’s why we have to tap them and empower them at the same time,” said Tolentino.

Tolentino added that with the recent report of relief spoilage, the almost 3000 sacks of rice could have been immediately transported to its recipients if local officials were utilized.

If elected in the senate, Tolentino also vowed to spearhead “disaster recovery and rehabilitation,” involving a community rehabilitation recovery trust fund for LGUs.

“We can no longer prevent calamities but we should ensure swift normalcy,” said Tolentino who vowed to help create a Philippine Disaster Reconstruction Agency once elected as senator.

Latest reports said that around 2,800 sacks of rice and relief supplies were found abandoned in a far-flung barangay in Dagami, Leyte with the seal of National Food Authority while several plastic bags bear the seal of the DSWD.

Reports added that it was the Philippine Navy who buried the goods upon orders of still unnamed officials which was intended for affected families due to Typhoon Ruby.

“There should be a proper disposal of these goods and accounting of spoiled supplies. Hindi yung hihintayin pang madiskubre. Dapat mag reflect sa reporting ng DSWD ang mga ganitong spoilage as well as operation of proper disposal,” said Peralta.