Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman, today, reiterates her willingness to sit down and dialogue with any group who wants to help in the relief and rehabilitation effort in Eastern Visayas.

This is in view of the “lightning rally” staged by a group from GABRIELA and People Surge, an alliance of Typhoon Yolanda survivors from Eastern Visayas, at the DSWD Central Office this morning.

“We have demonstrated that we are open to dialogues as long as we are notified in advance unlike today when all our officials are on field attending to important tasks,” Soliman said.

It can be recalled that Secretary Soliman met with the leaders of the two groups on March 12 and discussed issues on relief distribution, provision of P40,000 cash assistance, and the scrapping of the ‘No Build Zone”.

In today’s rally, the group raised the issue of “rotten relief goods” from DSWD and the seven (7) persons who died of hunger.

Secretary Soliman said that DSWD earlier investigated the reported truckloads of relief goods being buried in the dumpsite of Palo — a certification issued by the Municipal Health Officer (MHO) on March 7 belied the allegation. The MHO said that only one sack of assorted biscuits, 10 cups of instant noodles, 1/2 sack of wet rice, and one sack of used clothing were buried.

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer said that the goods came from “various agencies” which she can no longer remember. “DSWD Eastern Visayas is now helping the local government in handling and warehousing of relief goods to prevent future incidence of rotten relief goods,” Soliman said.

On the seven (7) persons including a three-month old baby who died of hunger, Secretary Soliman has already instructed the DSWD staff to conduct an investigation and provide her with update.

Meanwhile, Secretary Soliman also clarified that there was no “walk-out” in the March 12 meeting where she answered one by one the issues raised by the groups.

In the said meeting, she reiterated that relief distribution will not end this month and that DSWD will consult with the different local government units (LGUs) in the region to determine who among the victims will still be needing relief support as some are already able to work and can stand on their own feet.

She assured that relief supply will continue to 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.

In the March 12 meeting, Sec. Soliman asked the group to cooperate with the Department in reaching those they claim to have not been given relief goods. She requested that they provide the Department with the details of those concerned barangays so they can be served since based on DSWD report all 171 municipalities within the 50-kilometer radius along the typhoon’s path have been reached. She shared to the leaders the DSWD text hotline (09209463766) and encouraged them to tell their members to send their complaints on relief distribution. ###