DSWD may sue LGUs holding back relief goods

MANILA, Philippines - Local government units found to be hoarding relief goods instead of immediately distributing them may face charges, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman said Thursday.

"Puwede silang kasuhan kapag ganyan," Soliman said in a dzMM interview, adding that local authorities should find ways to give out relief to super-typhoon Yolanda victims despite constraints.

She said the department's staff will investigate reports on hoarding in the devastated towns of Tanauan, Javier, Dulag, Mayorga at McArthur in Leyte province today.

"Amin pong papupuntahan ... ngayong araw para malaman at kakausapin sila na hindi pwedeng hindi niyo pinamimigay at iniimbak ang mga bigas," the official said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas earlier discovered warehouses still filled with undistributed mounds rice and food donations.

Local officials, meanwhile, had said that the lack of trucks and petroleum prevents them from packing and giving away the goods. They also denied that the goods have already been stored for some time.

"Pero may nakita akong delivery kahapon pa. Alam ko 'yung sa World Food Program either kahapon o nung isang araw pa inilabas," Roxas observed on Wednesday.

Soliman added that local officials should be the first responders in time of emergency.

"Ang national ay dagdag-tulong lang, ngayong dinagdagan ng tulong sila, tapos hindi nila ginagawa ang dapat nilang gawin, pwede natin silang kasuhan," she said.

Yolanda, among the most intense cyclones to hit land, washed out homes and buildings and claimed thousands of lives in the Visayas last November 8.

A massive relief drive from other countries and the private sector followed to address needs of the victims in the flattened-out towns especially in Leyte and Samar.