Government distribution to 2 towns: Canned goods, in food packs, found “expired”

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – The nagging delay in core house construction and public building rehabilitation, after the earthquake struck Bohol in 2013, was made worse when the government’s food packs, distributed to two towns in this province, were found “expired” and unsafe for human consumption.

Sikatuna town Mayor Jose Ellorimo, an unopposed bet of the Liberal Party this coming elections, confirmed to dyTR’s Cuentas Claras program that his beneficiaries received canned goods that were already expired, as indicated in the expiry date printed in the cans.

Ellorimo said 300 of his constituents received the food packs, each of which contained five kilos of rice, canned goods and coffee.

The mayor said he already ordered the municipal social welfare officer of Sikatuna to recover the expired canned goods and possibly be replaced with similar products that are not yet expired, although he said it would not matter anymore if these returned items are not replaced.

He told The Freeman the goods or food packs came from the national government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, but repacked and distributed by the provincial government.

DyTR Radio yesterday tried to contact the DSWD national office and the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development to get their side on the issue but to no avail.

In Balilihan town, former councilor Salvio Madanguit questioned the motive of the government in giving such food packs, which were supposedly intended for disaster relief to two barangays of the town during Christmas season when there was no post-disaster operations.

Madanguit said that even Barangay Chairman Dodong Libatona reportedly reacted to the distribution of the food packs, containing the expired canned goods, to his constituents.

Balilihan town Mayor Pureza Chatto, wife of Governor Edgar Chatto, had ordered the withdrawal of the food packs with expired canned goods from the beneficiaries.

Madanguit said the discovery was done by those beneficiaries who were curious on the items they received, but he was worried about those who were not aware of the expiry date of the canned goods they got.

Another thing that bothered Madanguit, based on reports he received, was that some food packs were supposed to be given to would-be beneficiaries if they work first under the DSWD’s “food for work” program. (FREEMAN)