MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Tuesday ordered the Philippine National Police to investigate reports that some local executives in Bohol have been hoarding relief goods that were delivered to their offices by disaster officials from the national and provincial government.
Roxas also directed Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, PNP director for Region 7, to help ensure that all relief goods delivered to municipal officials would reach residents displaced by the Oct. 15 killer quake.
"Hindi naman tama na itago sa mga opisina ang mga relief goods na bigay ng national at provincial government. Kung talagang may nangyayaring ganito, dapat managot sa batas ang sinumang responsible sa relief hoarding," Roxas said.
Roxas issued the order after the Department of Social Welfare and Development reported to him that some residents displaced by the quake in Bohol have not received relief goods allegedly due to hoarding by municipal and barangay officials.
"Inaatasan ko ang lahat ang Chief of Police sa Bohol na tumulong sa pag-monitor ng delivery ng relief goods. Dapat siguruhin na makakarating ang mga ito kahit sa malalayong residente na apektado ng lindol,†he added.
He noted that personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Provincial Engineering Office have been working almost 24 hours a day to ensure that all roads remain inter-connected and that no municipality is isolated from the major highways.
"All towns are fully accessible. The previously isolated towns of Loon, Maribojoc and Antiquera are now reachable in two hours from Tagbilaran," he said.
Roxas added that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, together with volunteer groups of mountaineers and hikers, have also dispatched teams to help in the delivery of relief goods even to far-flung barangays devastated by the killer quake.
"Wala nang dahilan para hindi maabot ng relief goods ang mga kababayan natin na nasalanta ng lindol. Sinisiguro ng pamahalaan na may sapat na suplay ng relief goods at may daan para maipaabot ito sa mga tao," he said.
Last Sunday, the DSWD reported that government personnel and volunteer groups have delivered a total of 94,300 family food packs or an average of 22,000 a day to damaged areas in Bohol.
Roxas said DSWD personnel in the province are also stepping up their repacking operations in order to increase their delivery to 30,000 a day for at least another week.
"Hindi kailangang magtago ng relief goods dahil sa takot na maubos agad ito. May sapat na suplay ang DSWD para pakainin ang mga taong apektado ng lindol araw-araw," he added.