This expression of support came amid various false accounts such as rotten goods being distributed to ‘Yolanda’ survivors, rotten rice being kept in a DSWD warehouse in Tacloban, and relief goods not reaching the survivors, are being hurled against the Department.

The seven mayors, along with other local chief executives of other towns in the region participated in the recently concluded Leaders for Disaster Resilient Communities Seminar/Workshop organized by the Ateneo School of Government and the Kaya Natin! Movement .

DSWD assistance

To date, all the seven mayors said that their towns have received enough relief goods from DSWD.

Mayor Edgar C. Boco of Hernani, Eastern Samar, said, “Hindi nagkulang ang DSWD sa pagbibigay ng relief goods (DSWD was not remiss in the provision of relief goods).  We have enough food to last until May this year from the relief assistance provided by the DSWD.”

“DSWD is doing all it can to respond to the problems, given the magnitude of the disaster,” Mayor Buco added.
Mayor Daisy A. Lleve of Mahaplag, Leyte recalled, “In those days following the onslaught of ‘Yolanda’, only the DSWD was able to reach and provide us assistance. Most of the relief goods that we received were from DSWD.”

“Our municipality is remote so even the NGOs had a hard time getting to our town. I am very grateful to DSWD and to Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman for all the assistance they have given, and still giving to us,” the lady chief executive said.

Mayor Emiliana P. Villacarillo of Dolores, Eastern Samar, stressed, “DSWD has always been there for us, not only during disasters, but all times of the year. DSWD has the most effective tools in giving assistance to children and senior citizens.”

“Thank you very much, for sharing your life with the people you helped,” the lady mayor relayed her message to DSWD.

On the other hand, Mayor Manuel S. Que of Dulag, Leyte, emphasized, “We should not put political color in the distribution of relief goods so that the people will not be hungry.”

“I am grateful to DSWD because they properly handled the disaster operations. Everyone was provided assistance,” Mayor Que stated.

“Until now, we are still receiving relief goods, we are able to receive two kinds of canned goods and two tranches of rice, 25 kilos each.”

“They did not forget their obligation in putting back the lives of the people,” Mayor Que stated referring to the DSWD staff who helped the survivors.

Livelihood support

The mayors also said that their municipalities are all beneficiaries of the Cash-for-Work (CFW) program implemented by DSWD to provide means of livelihood for the survivors.

“In fact, before I left for Manila, I already signed the Memorandum of Agreement with DSWD for the implementation of the CFW,” La Paz, Leyte Mayor Lesmes Lumen stated.

He also shared that with about 90% of the coconut trees destroyed in LaPaz, he encouraged his constituents to shift from coconut to rice farming, planting vegetables and cash crops.

Meanwhile, Mayor Villacarillo expounded that 70% of the devastated islands of Dolores have already been rehabilitated.

“We have distributed pump boats for the fishermen since the main livelihood here is fishing. We have also started a housing project for those left homeless by Yolanda,” the mayor said.

Mayor Boco, on the other hand, added that Hernani is also on its way to recovery.

“We have received bancas for our fishermen which they are now  using  for their livelihood.”

He cited that farmers have begun planting crops that can be harvested in the coming months.
Not of hunger but natural cause

The mayors also disputed the claims of some activist groups that relief goods are not reaching the survivors causing hunger and death among them.

Mayor Jaime S. Ty whose town of General MacArthur, Eastern Samar, was reported to have seven deaths due to hunger, underscored that there are no casualties in his town and “nobody’s complaining”.

He further stated, “I have no problems with DSWD.  The Department was able to assist the Yolanda victims in our municipality. “

Mayor Ty said that his constituents have enough supply of relief goods.

“Katatangap lang nila ng rice packs at mga de lata. Sabi nga nila, may naipon pa silang isang sako ng bigas at apat na karton ng mga de lata. Kaya, paano sila magugutom (They have just received rice packs and canned goods. The survivors said that they still have one sack of rice and four boxes of canned goods, so how can they go hungry),” Mayor Ty related.

On the spoiled goods, he admitted that they have a few spoiled sacks of rice but they did not distribute these.
Barangay Chairmen Edmundo Mentes and Rosalinda Misagal of Liwayway and Danao, respectively, agreed with Mayor Ty, saying, “No one has died of hunger in our respective barangays. “

Mentes even said that he still has sacks of rice from his August 2013 harvest. Another resident, Antonio Millar, even showed his two sacks of rice hidden in his hut when they were visited by staff of the DSWD Field Office in the region.

Mentes said that their town was spared from the storm surge.

Mentes and Misagal admitted that the people identified by activitst groups, indeed, have died but due to natural causes and not of hunger.

The natural causes of deaths were confirmed by their respective family members. DSWD staff even attended the wakes.

From Brgy. Liwayway, the 3-month old baby died because she was born prematurely, Felisa Pantin died of old age, Anito Tisgado died of kidney failure, and Francisco Salico died in a motorcycle accident,
Meanwhile, from Brgy Danao, the persons identified were Elizabeth Adonis who died of cervical cancer, Herminia Milar who was suspected to have died from “bangungot” or pancreatitis, and Daniel Lota who died of old age.

The families and relatives of the deceased expressed their disbelief of the allegations. They are hurt and insulted that the names of their departed loved ones would be dragged into something as demeaning as this.
For his part, Mayor Boco added that there was really no truth that DSWD has distributed rotten or spoiled goods nor that his constituents got hungry.

Mayor Villacarillo stated, “I have no doubt about the efficiency of DSWD’s handling of the disaster operations.”
On the alleged complaints of survivors that they are not receiving any kind of assistance since Yolanda struck, Mayor Villacarillo stated that “there are always gossip-mongers who spread inaccurate information.”

“I did not hear any complaints from the people in our municipality,” she pointed out.

“Also, there are some people who transfer from one barangay to another to double their ration, and when they are doubted since they are not residents of that area, they begin to talk against DSWD and the local government,” Mayor Vilacarillo further explained.

Lesson learned

For Mayor Alden Avestruz of Baurgo, Leyte,  coordination among stakeholders played a big role in the overall disaster response saying that this should be sustained or better yet, strengthened. ###