DSWD relabeling foreign relief goods? Volunteer's complaint goes viral

MANILA, Philippines - A Facebook user who claims to be a relief volunteer alleged that a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in Cebu repacked donations that are ready to be distributed to the victims of Super Typhoon "Yolanda."

Cherrey Mae Bartolata, a volunteer stationed in Mactan Air Base, wrote in her Facebook account that donations from Indonesia were allegedly repacked and relabeled with "DSWD" and "NFA" (National Food Authority).

Bartolata said the alleged process is slowing down the distribution of relief goods, which have been pre-packed.

"Bakit sige pa ng repack at pamumukas sa mga nakapack at niready na kaagad (in times of emergency) ng ibang bansa?," Bartolata was quoted as saying in her translated Facebook post, which was originally written in Cebuano.

"I am frustrated. I am angry. I feel hopeless," she said.

Bartolata's Facebook post has gone viral, earning over 8,000 shares and 4,000 likes in two days.

A Filipino translation of her post, which was posted on the Facebook page of the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards, has also gained nearly 37,000 shares and over 10,000 likes.

In an interview over radio dzMM, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman denied the allegation but assured that an investigation is underway.

"[H]indi ko ho alam saan nanggagaling yung, balita ko ho diyan ay ‘yung sa Facebook, nagsasabi na Indonesian goods yung nire-repack. Hindi ho namin ginagawa yun dahil, una, wala ho kaming oras para gawin yan. Pangalawa, yung nire-repack namin from abroad ay yung mga nakalagay pa sa kahon at sako," Soliman said.

The DSWD Field Office VII in Cebu has also explained that donated repacked goods are often checked for damaged and expired goods, according to Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III.

Quezon explained in his Facebook account that this is done to ensure that no expired and leaking canned goods end up distributed.

"DSWD staff asked the volunteers to check all the packs and remove any expired/damaged/breakable goods," Quezon said. "For example, if the donated relief contains ketchup bottles, volunteers would be asked to remove this so that it will not be difficult to handle and transport."

Citing Soliman, Quezon also explained that the agency also repacks goods that are in bulky packages.

He said for instance, the energy bars and meal replacement paste from the United States Agency for International Development are taken out of their boxes and are placed in food pack plastic bags.

And when these are repacked, they are combined with other food items, Quezon said.