Amid "Politicking" Issue , PB to monitor relief goods distribution

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale appealed to members of the Provincial Board to be involved in the distribution of relief goods in their respective districts.

Magpale made the request upon knowing that some PB members were concerned on how the Capitol relief goods were being distributed to the victims of super typhoon "Yolanda," particularly in Northern Cebu towns.

During the PB session last Monday, Board Member Julian Daan asked the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to be enlightened on the relief assistance the provincial government is extending municipalities and cities in the province and whether there is no politics involved.

PSWDO OIC Evelyn Senajon, who attended the PB session, assured the members that there are people monitoring in the distribution.

Board Member Thadeo Ouano suggested that the PB members concerned should be given the right to monitor the distribution.

In line with the concern raised on alleged "politicking" in the distribution of relief goods, Senajon clarified in an interview with the media that it is not true that they sent more goods to Daan Bantayan and San Remegio.

She said they sent the same number of relief goods to all towns last Saturday and all in all, even more to Medellin.

Senajon added that the local government unit and residents of Medellin may have heard that 500 packs were sent to the other towns while only 50 were given to them.

But she stressed that each town was sent 50 sacks with each sack containing 15 packs of relief goods or totaling to 750 relief packs for each town. 

She added that the trucks carrying the goods cannot carry more than 500 sacks, supporting their defense that the other towns were not given 500 sacks each since in every trip, they carry relief goods for four to five towns.

For Medellin, PSWDO records showed they have sent 3,650 relief packs.

Senajon said that apart from the daily provision they have given Medellin, they also gave out 100 packs of goods to four barangay captains from Medellin who personally went to the Provincial Capitol after relief goods reportedly did not reach their barangays.

The four barangays that personally asked for relief goods from the Capitol are Barangay Canhabagat, Panugnawan, Don Virgilio and Mahawak.

As for the town of Liloan, Senajon also explained that the relief goods did not go through the municipal government since there were also seven barangays that sought for relief assistance from the provincial Capitol.

 In the text message of Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco, he said that it surprised him to read in the local papers that the provincial government indicated that they gave 700 packs of goods for Liloan. He said he is not aware of receiving any goods nor did the office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development office of Liloan.

"If politics has played a role in the province's issuance of this curious statement in that no coordination was made with me because I am not a member of the ruling party, I find this to be most unfortunate. Politics has no place in the giving of humanitarian assistance in a time of such great need," stated Frasco in his text message.

Senajon confirmed sending relief packs for 700 families in Liloan but said that it did not go through the municipal government since it was the barangay captains who sought directly for help.

She said the Liloan government did not ask for relief goods from the capitol and since the provincial government was prioritizing those badly damaged by the typhoon, they did not give relief goods to Lilo-an.

But Senajon said that apparently there were barangays in Liloan that were affected and in result sought for the help of 5th district Representative Ace Durano.

She said the barangay captains of Sta Cruz, Tayud, Catarman, Cabadiangan, Yati and Calero were given relief packs for 100 families each. 

Meanwhile, 3rd district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia delivered relief assistance to the typhoon victims in the fourth district, which is under Representative Benhur Salimbangon.

However, they were prevented from travelling to Bantayan Island yesterday after the Philippine Coast Guard cancelled all trips due to another typhoon.

Instead, Salimbangon said they distributed the rice and canned goods in San Remigio town where there are also a lot of victims waiting for relief assistance.

Salimbangon said they will try to make it today to Bantayan Island where three of its municipalities-Santa Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos- were heavily devastated.

"Ayaw kamo kaguol kay manghatag mi sa tibuok distrito, salamat sa pagsabot magtinabangay kita, bangon cuarto distrito," Salimbangon said.

DEATH TOLL

Based on the data of the Office of the Civil Defense as of Monday afternoon, there are already 59 reported casualties in Central Visayas with 99 injured and nine others missing. 

Out of the reported fatalities in the region, 58 are from the Cebu Province while one is from Bohol.

The typhoon also left 320,215 people or 69,117 families homeless where 60,432 of are from Cebu; 7,030 from Bohol; 1,425 from Negros Oriental and 230 from Siquijor. —  (FREEMAN)