DSWD to address relief distribution problems

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) vowed yesterday to address the supposed “inadequacy and insufficiency” of the distribution of relief goods to prevent a repeat of last Tuesday’s incident where alleged victims of typhoon “Pablo” stormed its Region 11 office in Davao City.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman also said they would have to file charges because some of the rallyists were deceived into joining the incident as they were promised a sack of rice and a trip to the beach, among other things.

She said negotiations among the DSWD, the Barug Katawhan, Balsa Mindanao and local officials ended peacefully with all parties agreeing to determine “the total number of families who did not receive enough goods as basis for the distribution of relief goods.” 

Over a thousand members of Barug Katawhan and its allied groups des-troyed the gates of the DSWD-Region 11 office, carting away sacks of rice and other relief items.

Soliman said the DSWD would need to provide assistance to 233,354 families affected by Pablo last December in Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, and Davao City.

Soliman said the government would have to help them get jobs and new shelters so they could get back on their feet again. 

According to Soliman, the 233,354 families have been identified and their addresses listed.

She said all parties agreed “to fast-track the validation of the number of families who did not receive enough goods, the zones and small divisions in the barangays that did not receive or failed to receive sufficient relief goods.” – With Edith Regalado