Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu – As various humanitarian aid for ‘Yolanda’-hit areas in the Visayas continue to arrive at the city, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Field Office VII partnered with other government agencies to set up a one-stop processing station for all foreign donations at the Mactan Airbase.

This is in response to the call of Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ruffy Biazon for a venue to centralize the processing and documentation of donated relief supplies and to facilitate their release within 24 hours from filing of import entry. The one-stop station is open 24/7.

However, the DSWD clarified that not all donations are in its custody.

“It really depends on the donor and to whom they would like to give their donations. Based on protocol, all documents will pass through the one-stop processing center but it does not mean that DSWD will receive all donations,” DSWD-FO VII Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat emphasized.

“There are international organizations that choose to give their donations to their local counterparts,” Jabagat added.

Process

Based on the revised omnibus guidelines in the management and processing of donations in facilitating the issuance of certification for duty free entry of foreign donations, Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDA) shall submit authenticated deed of donation from the Philippine Consular Office of the country of origin. This should come with an accompanying certificate of the fitness of food and medicine for consumption and of compliance with the country of origin’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

They also need to submit shipping documents such as original and/or duly certified true copy of Bill of Lading or Airway Bill and Packing List

The receiving consignee will sign a waiver and submit a status report of the distribution or utilization of donation.

Donors

Currently, DSWD  has been made consignee for the donations of nine countries – Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, India, Canada, China, Thailand, Australia and Indonesia.

Last week, the People’s Republic of China donated 2,600 packages of tents and blankets.

“The Chinese Government has been following closely the situation in the typhoon-hit areas,” said Economic & Commercial Counsellor Wu Zhengping.

“China and the Philippines are neighbors. There is a long history of friendly exchanges and cooperation. Our donation demonstrates our friendly sentiment to the Filipinos,” Wu added.

Dir. Jabagat assured that all donations are properly accounted for and acknowledged.

Aside from DSWD and BOC, other agencies involved are the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Health (DOH) and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD).# # #