MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clarified on Wednesday the issue that there were relief food packs containing expired noodles distributed to tropical storm “Seniang” victims in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
Upon receiving the report, DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman instructed the DSWD-Field Office VI to immediately check its veracity.
After verification with the Silay City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the Field Office found out that only two food packs contained expired noodles.
It was also found out that the said food packs were part of the last batch of relief goods for typhoon “Yolanda” survivors which were released by DSWD to the CSWDO last September with the specific instruction that the relief items should be distributed immediately to the intended beneficiaries.
The city social welfare development officer admitted that she took two extra packs from the last tranche of goods for the “Yolanda” victims and without checking the condition of their contents, she included these in the relief items distributed to TS “Seniang” victims.
To determine if there were similar incidents in other areas, the DSWD Field Office conducted checking of other local government units (LGUs) in the province and so far, it has not yet monitored any.
Meanwhile, Secretary Soliman issued strict instructions to all DSWD Field Offices to constantly remind LGUs on the immediate distribution of relief goods given to them to ensure that these will not expire and that survivors can immediately use them.