DSWD vows ‘politico-proof’ distribution of relief goods

Politicians will not get a chance to use donated items from the United Nations as political “campaign materials" to be distributed to victims of recent cyclones, the Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) said Monday. In a radio interview, DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said her department will handle the food items from the UN, while its personnel will keep watch over the distribution process. “Hindi po [mga pulitiko ang magre-repack] ng relief goods. Kami ang humahawak at nandodoon ang mga tauhan namin habang dini-distribute ang mga iyon (We will not allow politicos to repack the UN-donated goods. These will go through us and our personnel will be there while the goods are distributed)," Cabral said on dzBB radio. An initial 100-ton food shipment from the UN World Food Program (WFP) arrived in the country Sunday for victims of cyclones “Ondoy" (Ketsana) and typhoon “Pepeng" (Parma). [See story on UN flash appeal for relief assistance] WFP country director Stephen Anderson said another 100 tons of biscuits is scheduled to arrive on Oct. 24. Cabral noted the UN also gave rice for the cyclone victims. But she said that while the UN-donated rice will be included in food packs for victims, it will be placed with other goods in containers with the UN logo. “May bigas na binigay ang UN sa atin at ito [ay] isasama sa food pack na iba. Nakalagay ang kanilang tatak sa rice pack (The UN gave some rice and we will include it in our food packs. The packs with UN donations will have the UN logos)," she said.

Meanwhile, government agencies have stepped up preparations for the coming of typhoon “Ramil" (Lupit). Radio dzBB’s Denevin Macaranas reported that the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said that it is coordinating with local officials to go “door to door" to convince residents in high-risk areas to evacuate. [See story: NDCC alerts northern Luzon vs typhoon Ramil] NDCC spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres Jr. said the door-to-door campaign will primarily target residents in danger zones. Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reminded medical personnel in government hospitals in Luzon to remain on Blue Code alert. “Lahat na medical staff [naka-duty] on round the clock basis, wala munang day-off. Baka biglang rumagasa at maraming madisgrasya, maraming casualties (All medical staff will be on duty round the clock. No days-off for now, we may have many casualties to treat)," Duque said in an interview on dwIZ radio. - GMANews.TV