Donated goods sitting in DSWD warehouse
Published: October 23, 2009 | Author: Beting Laygo Dolor
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Published: October 23, 2009 | Author: Beting Laygo Dolor
Total Views: 3047 | Rating:
A ‘Philippine News’ exclusive
MANILA – Who will feed and clothe the hundreds of thousands of victims of typhoons Pepeng and Ondoy? Not the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which is barely moving when it is expected to be running on overdrive.
Hundreds of millions of pesos worth of relief goods donated by the Unicef, as well as the governments of Japan, Spain and the US, among other donor countries, are lying dormant in the warehouses of the DSWD, “Philippine News” learned this week.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced that the DSWD should be the government agency tasked with distributing the donated goods. Otherwise, they would be subject to donors’ tax.
Over the weekend, a small group of volunteers headed for a DSWD warehouse in Metro Manila. What they saw shocked them.
Instead of a warehouse teeming with fellow volunteers processing the goods for immediate deployment, the group of eight young men and women found themselves with only a single DSWD employee and one security guard.
“These clothes, food and blankets will not move themselves,” one of the volunteers said. “Why isn’t the government making their distribution a priority?”
The size of the warehouse is estimated at more than a thousand square meters with much of its floor area occupied by all kinds of goods, from cans of pork and beans, to Coleman camp beds, to bath soap. There were also cooking utensils and blankets. The only non-essential items were boxes of toys, clearly intended for the countless young kids who may not be fully aware why they had lost everything they owned following a single day of rains.
To the average Filipino, the contents of the warehouse would qualify as luxury items. There were none of the millions of packs of low-cost instant noodles that had been donated by countless companies and individuals ever since the humanitarian crisis began after Ondoy struck last month, and which have become the daily fare of the victims in the relief centers.
Working more than eight hours on their day off, the volunteers were able to repack 150 sacks. They were hardly able to make a dent on the sheer volume of the donated goods.
What they had repacked was set aside, with no one to take care of delivery.
Outside the warehouse was a driverless truck with a sign saying: “Do not delay.” The guard told them that there was “no money for gasoline for the truck.”
“Philippine News” managed to get hold of Social Works Secretary Esperanza Cabral’s assistant, who said they “lacked volunteers.” The assistant said Cabral was busy and could not comment.
A member of her staff, however, said that the non-movement of relief goods from abroad was "a sensitive issue."
The volunteers were earlier told that taking pictures of the warehouse and its contents was not allowed. Out of concern for their security, “Philippine News” is keeping their identities secret.
In the eight-odd hours that they were there, the volunteers were not fed either. Nor were they taken out to a safe place when they were done. The warehouse is located in a relatively inaccessible place and is one of four known to be DSWD property housing all the goods given by foreign donors to the Philippines in the last few weeks.
It is not known if this bottleneck in the DSWD’s distribution system is intentional or not. The lack of manpower may be a reason that the goods are not being processed. But the eight volunteers are but a small fraction of the tens of thousands of Filipinos young and old who are willing to help in whatever way they can.
“Mobilizing all the volunteers they need is so easy,” one of the volunteers said, “Literally thousands of high school and college students would be perfectly willing to help.”
The 120,000-strong Armed Forces of the Philippines can also be tapped, she said.
At worst, there are tens of thousands of jobless Filipinos who can be paid the minimum wage who can be contracted to repack the goods.
Filipinos have a saying, “aanhin pa ang damo kapag patay na ang kabayo?” or what good is the grass if the horse is already dead?
The head of the eight-man volunteer group said they were eager and excited to help when they first headed for the warehouse. By the time they left, they were angry and depressed.
“There is no sense of urgency on the part of the DSWD. Even if it was a Saturday, it’s no excuse. The DSWD should be operating 24/7 to repack and send those goods to where they are most needed,” he said, “Everything inside that warehouse should be used to alleviate the suffering of thousands.”
The DSWD is not even moving at a turtle’s pace, but appears to be sleeping on the job. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of typhoon victims continue to suffer.
Comments
Lo,marites said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
what is the gov't doing. they should be delivering these goods to people in need . what kind of a gov't do we have "HEARTLESS, GREEDY"?
Ferdinand caramto said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
Below is a copy of my letter to my friends in New Zealand who happends to read this article and asked me about my views regarding this matter.
DEAR CFC BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN WELLINGTON:
I am writing this letter to you as an employee of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and as a former secretary-general of the Social Welfare Employees Association of the Philippines ( SWEAP). Our Department secretary has already said her piece.
I am saddened by the blog being circulated by a certain ellaganda who claims to be a volunteer of the DSWD at our national warehouse in Pasay City which is now menacing the integrity of the whole Department including its employees.
I must agree that the photos were taken inside the warehouse, however the captions are rather malicious instead of telling the truth . It must be understood that the goods are not intended for Metro-Manila alone but also for other regions in the country like the Cordillera where 313 perished due to land slides ( My native province, Benguet and Baguio City has 286 casualties, 32 are from my barangay) . Those goods when the photos were taken are stockpiles awaiting for hauling to the regions.
Nowhere can you find any expired or rotten goods in the photos. The area is clean that not even a single rat is seen as described by Ella. I am also very sure that the boxes or cartons being unfolded as shown in one of the photos are not for beddings but additional cautions for wet floors in evacuation centers in Metro Manila.
As per policy, releases of goods are based on the request of local government units through their Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils (P/C/MDCCs) and not to anybody else. This is to safeguard the goods from unscrupulous people who try to gain from the tragedy. After its release, it is already the decision of the LGU to dispose the goods based on their relief and rehabilitation plans.
In my involvement to national disasters around the country for more than a decade there is no such term as special disaster victim. All relief goods regardless of its source whether local or foreign are equally apportioned to disaster areas. There is no line dividing the rich and poor victims during relief goods distribution.
The DSWD has been rated as the number 1 government agency in terms of integrity and service. We were rated by various independent survey agencies as the top least corrupt Department. We do not want to stain this reputation.
I thank everybody for their comments. It is through comments that we government employees grow and improve our services to the public most specially to our less privileged brothers. May we then seek your full understanding not to be carried – away by your emotions and make instant judgment to damaging blogs.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND HOPE TO SEE YOU SOONEST.
Your CFC brother,
FERDINAND D. CARAMTO
Planning Officer – DSWD – CAR
PS:
GALING PO SA HANAY NG KAWANI NG DSWD
DI PO KAMI PAPAYAG NA YURAKAN NG ISANG MALISYOSO AT MAPAGSAMANTALANG BLOGGER ANG LAHAT NG AMING PAGHIHIRAP AT SAKRIPISYONG GINAGAWA SA NGALAN NG TUNGKULIN. ITO ANG TINIG NG MANGGAGAWA NG KAGAWARANG PANLIPUNAN!!!
(PLS VISIT : dswd.gov.ph)
Salamat Manen Apo!
Danny Colombo said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
Election is getting closer. Those donations will be repack and distributed before May 2010. You know what I mean... repacked with the candidate's name on the bag.
Joselito DelaCruz said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
With the 2010 election near by, it will be used by politicians to distribute during their campaign sorties. It is SOP (standard operating procedure).
JUN CASANOVA said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
So there's a lot of questions in this case.Why they are not ditributed?BECAUSE OF FLIMSY REASON THAT THERE'S NOBODY TO DO IT?What the DWSD is doing specially Miss CABRAL.Can't she coodinate with other government agencies to assist them?Maybe she got an order from up to let it stay there until the horses are dead.Aanhin pa nga naman ang damo kung patay na ang mga kabayo..There might be an answer to this question..LET THE CROCODILE FROM UP EAT THEM.
Peter Tamayo said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
The Philippine Government should be ashamed of themselves for letting the filipino people suffer like this and help them. Filipino people, you need a new government of honest and caring professional's that care. Wake up filipino's. Too many crooks in your government.
Joseph Sadowski said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
Why should they give it out they can claim it as their assets and show the world How much more better off the Philippines is, You know America and Other countries send money to help the Poor and then the Arron government turns around and Pays off their Bond Debt again showing the world how much better the Philippines is weathering the economy, Just continued manipulation of this government to other Governments how well they are doing when the fact is the Government Just hides how much real Poverty there really is in the Philippines, it is an on going cycle of deception of this government which will never stop till each person tried for crimes are put in a Jail and Not Pardoned , Just Like the ex-president who gave his word he will not run for Public office again which was one of the conditions of his Pardon, being he has broken his word ethics would demand that he is remanded back to Jail as it is a violation of the terms of that Pardon, so why has he not been Placed in Jail to serve his sentence? Because there is No dignity and no ethics and no morals, no moral principles and no moral values and no moral code, No dignity, if the Senate allowes this to continue without the ex-president remanded back to Jail then they are all no better then that who was found Guilty of Plunder and Other crimes which he has been found guilty of!
Sr. Norieta Tusi said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
if this article is true it is a shame that we let people suffer while the help need is already available. I hope and pray that they will realize how much other people are suffering.
Eleanor Weber said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
It is the duty of the President to get the ass of DSWD Chief to start working on those relief goods.
It is a shame that nobody cares, if there is no gasoline they could ask the government officials to donate even just a small amount of money so that those goods will reach the typhoon victims who are still suffering after a month of the disaster. I really feel for the typhoon victims.
Eddie Gabutin said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
People in the DSWD might want to distribute those goods to themselves,
Don said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
the philippine president should be charged with crimes against the state, the people and humanity, tried at the hague and executed in the streets for knowingly allowing children to suffer and die over a tax, what a pitiful example of a leader or woman. she is an embarrazement to the world.
Jesse misa said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
FIRE the person in-charge of the DSWD immediately! These donated items are intended for the needy and were shipped from distant places that are considered time sensitive especially food products. One reason these goods were held behind closed doors in the warehouse is because the entire DSWD staff, families and cronies are going through foraging and stealing from these donated items. Once they are all satisfied and had collected their loot, they will then release it to public. What about volunteers? The victims themselves are willing volunteers and they are hungry and desperate. False accusations? NOT! Even the security guard on watch is as guilty as the rest.
Barry green said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
Having read that article about all the donated goods just laying in a warehouse without distribution to all those needy,poor and displaced people from the tyhpoons is absolutely disgraceful..It angers me even more as im one of the donators who sent financial help..The National Philippines Gov,and all those who are responsible must bear the condemnation of the world for this disgraceful situation..from Sydney..Australia..
ARNEL said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
hehehe, bukas makalawa baka binibenta na yan sa duty free!!!!
Christine said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
applause to the volunteer who had the guts to inform the media about this. DSWD would have gotten away with its corrupt actions again if everybody will not do anything to put a stop to it.
Chester ostonal said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
There is only one word that can describe the way how Cabral of the DSSW has handled the relief efforts these past few weeks,"amateurish".I feel so small for her and her abject incompetence. For her to cling to a job she cannot do and for the GMA government not to act to relieve her of her job is despicable.But it is so interesting that there seem to be not enough negative fallout from what has been happening. Has the Filipino been so inured to incompetence in public service that that they would tolerate it even if the that incompetence causes suffering to so many.Is the incompetent response to the emergency that presented itself a ploy to enable a corrupt regime to hold on to what is rightfully "relief goods" and wait for an opportune time to convert it into an "objects of commerce".It is a distinct possibility given that the current regime is not exactly known for its ethical moorings or moral integrity.I am guessing that the answer will reveal itself in due time.
Rick Vieijra said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
Probably the authorities did not figeure out a way to make money out of it.
Shame (again)
RUBEN A PASCUAL said,
November 07, 2009 at 01:01:30:28 AM
distribute this relief right away for the victim typhoon undoy