One of most organized

This is connection with the World View column of Roberto Romulo published at the Business section of your newspaper (Philippine Star) last Feb. 14, 2014 with the title, Burauen, Leyte.

I want to clear the allegations written on the said article being the delegated in-charge of the relief operations in Burauen, Leyte. I was disheartened to have read such allegations which did not really happen at all. Our operations have been considered as one of the most organized and systematic in the province and we have received several commendations from non-government organizations, private organizations, government agencies and other visiting groups in our area. As a matter of fact, our records are always ready for scrutiny and verification.

 As early as Nov. 6, we had prepared enough food, water and evacuation centers for our people. Records will show that we have formulated a system to ensure that our townspeople would get what is really due to them. A tracking system for the received and distributed goods has been posted in our operations center for the purpose of transparency and accountability. It has been the goal of our municipal officials to ensure fair if not equal distribution among our barangays, regardless of any political affiliation, religion, sector or group. Our operations had been managed by the local chief executive, Mayor Fe S. Renomeron. She has been the prime mover in seeking aid directly from the national agencies and to foreign dignitaries as well. However, the relief distribution and other related activities have been handed over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office with Mrs. Vilma Abad, our MSWDO and me as the Municipal Coordinator for KALAHI-CIDSS Project, a poverty reduction program of DSWD as the Key Responsible Person for such activities. Inherent to our responsibility is to receive all the assistance given to us and manage it to be distributed accordingly to all areas of our municipality. We have delegated Community Facilitators to check and manage the distribution at the barangay level.

Burauen did not receive any imported sardines from UNICEF, and the allegations of having it replaced and sold in three stores in the municipality was totally fallacious. I suggest that the writer should have checked with UNICEF first before making such alleged statement or verified with us for a fair and just treatment. With that, the allegation of having UNICEF confiscated the imported sardines and returning it back to the people is then just a figment of the writer’s mind or its source of information. Records of UNICEF could attest to that. Otherwise, our DSWD Regional Office can also be a great source of information.

It is true indeed that UNICEF is currently assisting the municipality. With its partnership with ACF International, they will cater cash assistance to our pregnant, lactating women, female headed household and indigent solo parents.

Burauen is a first class municipality with 77 barangays. Though landlocked and situated 48 kilometers away from the capital of Leyte, it is enriched with empowered, knowledgeable and well informed people. People who have been honed by the Community Driven Development and the Bottom Up Approach. With that, unaccountable governance and irresponsible actions are not tolerated. Disciplined has been a part and parcel of our everyday living. Hence the slogan, “Disiplinado ako nga Burawanon.” (I am a disciplined Burawanon).

Three months have passed after Yolanda’s devastation, our municipality was already starting to rebuild our future. With everything we had experienced, all we need is a fair share of commentaries that is thrown against us. It is not easy to stand after a heavy fall but with justice and humility and a keen sense of investigation, truth shall prevail. After all, media should not be a picture of audacity.

Respectfully yours,

DOVER D. CONDE

Municipal Area Coordinator- KALAHI CIDSS Project

Municipality of Burauen