Tacloban City, Leyte – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) today said that it will continue to engage in peaceful dialogues with People Surge, an alliance of Typhoon Yolanda victims in Eastern Visayas, to address their different demands.

This following  a rally staged by the group on Monday  in front of the DSWD- Field Office VIII  here.

The group demanded for the transparency of relief goods distribution and their share of food packs with 25 kilos of rice.

The rallyists, composed of less than a hundred farmers, came from the towns of Pinabacdao and Calbiga, Samar. They voiced out their fear of getting hungry until the next harvest season. They said that their farmlands, their only source of livelihood,  were affected.

During the rally, DSWD-FO VIII Director Nestor Ramos met with eight leaders of the group to discuss their issues and concerns.  The dialogue lasted for almost three hours.

Dir. Ramos explained that DSWD did not receive any report  on damages and affected families from the LGUs which is the basis for the provision of assistance. He added that the two towns are not within the 50-kilometer radius of ‘Yolanda’s’ path.

He emphasized that DSWD is willing to provide them with food assistance once the local government unit has submitted the validated list of families affected by the typhoon.

Dir. Ramos further clarified that the remaining 31,000 sacks of rice from Thailand and 29,125 sacks of rice from Algeria  are expected to be delivered within this week . These will be used for the fifth round of 25-kilo rice distribution to affected families. ###