Noy's solution to Bohol mayor, Red Cross standoff: Coordination

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday called for coordination between government officials and volunteers amid a reported standoff between a Bohol town mayor and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) over the distribution of relief goods.

Aquino said the local government unit of the concerned official was not forcing the PRC volunteers to turn over the relief goods to him.

"Ang report sa akin, hindi naman yata pinipilit na kunin (relief goods) ng local government unit. Ang essence lang yata ay mag-coordinate," The president said at a televised press briefing in Bohol on Thursday.

"'Yun lang naman ang hinahabol. Mag-coordinate tayo sa isa't isa para masigurado na ang lahat ay matulungan," he added.

Red Cross volunteers reportedly complained of being shooed away by Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio Evasco for refusing to hand over relief goods to him.

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In a statement, the PRC explained its policy that relief assistance should be given directly to beneficiaries of a disaster by its staff and volunteers and not through other entities like the local government.

“Over many years of experience in the field of disaster response we have developed tried and tested systems for distributing humanitarian aid in an equitable and efficient way,” the PRC also said.

Meantime, Aquino assured that the government has enough funds to help the affected residents and rehabilitate the quake-hit province.

He said the government will also distribute food packs good for two weeks to the victims of the deadly magnitude 7.2 quake.

Aside from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government units, Aquino said non-government organizations have also helped in the repacking.

According to the DSWD, around 60,000 affected families have received 163,000 food packs.

Aquino also assured affected residents that there are enough funds to rehabilitate Bohol, the province hardest hit by the major temblor.

"Huwag ho kayo mag-alala, may kakayanan ang gobyerno tugunan ang pangangailangan niyo," Aquino said. "Magtulungan ho tayo dito at malalaktawan natin itong pagsubok na ito."