Donation for Yolanda survivors stuck at CIP

CEBU, Philippines - A non-government organization is complaining over the “delay” in the release of its two container vans that  contain relief goods supposedly for super typhoon Yolanda.

Fr. Tito Soquiño, executive director of the Santo Niño de Cebu Augustinian Social Development  Foundation, which is an NGO arm of the Basilica del Santo Niño, said the vans arrived at the Cebu International Port  last Dec. 19 yet. 

The vans contained relief goods from religious organization Knights of Malta in Singapore for distribution to Yolanda victims in Kinatarcan Island, Bantayan town in northern Cebu.

It is now almost four months since the relief goods’ arrival.

Soquiño said the cargo was supposed to be released last week but CF Sharp Shipping, a local shipping company which has taken charge of the shipment, is now asking for a P128,000 demurrage fee for the  two vans.

“No. We’re not going to pay. This is a donation intended for the people of Kinatarcan. Unsa man, pangayoan namo ang mga tawo og bayad para ibayad sa (Do they want us to ask the people to pay for the) P128,000?” Soquiño said.

He said they already paid close to P40,000 in fees, including P12,000 in deposit for the two vans, just to get the goods out of the CIP, but still to no avail.

“Kung kahibawo pa lang ta ingon ana diay kadako atong mabayran, maypa niingon nalang ta cash nalang ang i-donate or prayer, dali pa maabot (Had they known that they had to pay the said amount they would have told their donors to just donate in cash or offer “prayers,’ which arrive faster),” said Fr. Fr. Aladdin Luzon of the Colegio del Santo Niño Luzon said.

Luzon said SNAF and his group were supposed to bring the donation straight to Kinatarcan had it been this been released shortly after its arrival.

Dennis Abarientos of SNAF said the shipment being relief goods, they were able to secure a waiver last January 17, or a month after the vans came, for demurrage; but they did not know the waiver had an expiry date.

CF Sharp Shipping is charging SNAF P900 per van per day starting from February 3, and the P128,000 is only until March 31, which means it is increasing per day.

Soquiño said they should not be charged for the delay as they did not cause it.

Yoyong Suarez of SNAF blamed the delay on the “bureaucratic processes” at the CIP where every move, like a visit inside the docks, must have a letter-request.

Soquiño said they did not inform the donors that the goods are still stuck at the CIP to save them from anxiety.

Meanwhile, the group may still end up fighting for the goods even when it would be released already, after the Department of Social Welfare and Development  has reportedly informed them that all used clothing must be turned over to the agency.

“I-seize na (used clothing) in favor of the government. Ang (Bureau of) Customs mokuha ana but since Yolanda, ihatag na nila sa DSWD. Ang DSWD na in-charge sa mga used clothings. As to asa na nila ihatag, sila na kunoy bahala (where they would distribute the donation, we were told it is now up to them) s,” said Abarientos.

The two vans reportedly contain 800 boxes of used clothing.

Soquiño said they could willingly give all the donations to the government if that is what it wants; but they also have a responsibility to their donors, who took time and spent money to deliver the goods.—/RHM (FREEMAN)