Simultaneous dialogues between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and People Surge, a group of Typhoon Yolanda survivors from Eastern Visayas, were held on Wednesday at DSWD-Field Office VIII in Tacloban City and at the Central Office in Quezon City to clarify issues on the ongoing disaster operations for typhoon survivors.
In Tacloban City, DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman met with around 100 demonstrators in the middle of Magsaysay Boulevard as they refused to talk inside the Field Office. The Tacloban rallyists were represented by their leader Mark Simbajon
Similarly, Undersecretary Parisya Hashim-Taradji, Assistant Secretary Camilo G. Gudmalin, and Head Executive Assistant (HEA) Margarita I. Perez listened to the sentiments of some 20 rallyists at the Central Office main entrance. The group was led by Dr. Efleda Bautista, Executive Vice-Chairperson of People Surge.
Issues
The issues being raised by the protesters include the unequal distribution of goods with some 17,000 families who haven’t received any, relief operations ending on March 31, provision of P40,000 cash to each family-victim, reconstruction of damaged houses, and the rotten rice in Subic.
They are also asking the government to scrap the “no-build zone” policy in disaster-stricken areas.
Explanations
Even if they were in separate venues, the DSWD officials were unanimous in responding to the issues. They said that DSWD is always open for dialogues with any group to discuss and resolve any issue.
“DSWD is ready to listen. For those who have yet to receive relief goods, please furnish us a copy of the names you have submitted to Malacañang, and we will validate. You can even help in the validation,” Usec. Taradji said.
Asec. Gudmalin added that the DSWD has been providing relief goods to the Yolanda victims starting November, which are distributed in partnership with the local government units (LGUs).
To date, a total of 6,384,177 relief packs with three or six kilograms of rice have been handed out to the survivors.
He also explained that the goods are distributed by the local Social Welfare Office. He also added that DSWD is devolved and that the DSWD being referred to that is doing the relief distribution is the Municipal Local Social Welfare and Development Office of the LGUs.
“We give the relief goods to the local chief executives based on their request,” he said.
On the duration of relief distribution, Sec. Soliman said that it will be assessed by the end of the month to determine who among the victims will still be needing the relief support as some are already able to work like those who have benefitted from the Department’s Cash-for-Work Program.
Relief supply will however still be provided to those who are considered to be part of the vulnerable sector or those pregnant women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, sickly, and solo parents.
“We will consult with the LGUs on the families who still need relief assistance,” the Secretary stated.
No rice donations
On the P40,000 cash relief, Usec. Taradji said that People Surge and the Department will need to discuss this further.
“Government also has guidelines as to the provision of the cash relief. We also need to look at our existing policies to guide us in responding to said request,” she responded.
Sec. Soliman asked the Tacloban group how they would spend the P40,000 but they can not give further details.
On the issue of rotten rice, Sec. Soliman reiterated that the Department refused to accept the rice donation when it was first offered as DSWD found the sacks of rice to be already unfit for human consumption.
She likewise clarified that she did not commit to meeting the group in Manila on Wednesday, contrary to what the demonstrators at the DSWD Central Office are saying, as she already has previously scheduled meetings in Tacloban City that day which included the Mayors Forum and originally a meeting with the local chapters of People Surge and GABRIELA in the City. ###