DSWD-6 warns against tampering of food packs

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Fact: many families need help to get through this pandemic. And family food packs (FFPs) are a big help, especially for families in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

But while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) understands the gravity of the needs, tampering of DSWD food packs is against Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

Section 19 of RA 10121 prohibits the “repacking of good to make it appear that the good came from another agency or person or was released upon the instance of a particular agency or persons.”

Further, “any individual, corporation, partnership, association, or other juridical entity that commits any of the prohibited acts provided for in Section 19 of this Act shall be prosecuted and upon conviction shall suffer a fine of not less than P50,000 or amount not to exceed P500,000 or imprisonment of not less than six years and one day or more than 12 years, or both, at the discretion of the court, including perpetual disqualification from public office if the offender is a public officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government of the objects and the instrumentalities used in committing any of herein prohibited acts.”

“The Office understands the gravity of the needs, however tampering our food packs is against Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. Sec. 19 provides that repacking the goods to make it appear that the goods came from another agency or persons or was released upon the instance of a particular agency or persons is prohibited,” Macapobre said.

The DSWD – Field Office VI issued the said advisory following reports that there are barangay officials that are opening and repacking of DSWD food packs to share the contents to more families.

“We would like to emphasize that the family food packs is an augmentation to the existing resources of the requesting local government unit,” Ma. Evelyn Macapobre, DSWD-6 regional director, said.

Macapobre stressed that the localities remain as the first responder and resource augmentation.

“The DSWD is a national agency that provides technical assistance and resource augmentation. Thus, whatever DSWD is releasing is an additional resource to the local goods of the respective towns.”

Macapobre said the agency has full trust that the LGUs will exercise their best judgment in the provision of goods to those who are most affected by the imposition of the ECQ, which were declared in the city and province of Iloilo from July 16 until July 31.

“We have full trust that the LGUs will exercise their best judgment in the provision of goods to those who are most affected by the imposition of the ECQ.”

A resident of Brgy. North Baluarte, Molo have clamored over their insufficient family food packs received from the said barangay, based on a report of Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.

The concerned resident claimed that he only received canned goods and one kilogram of rice.

Barangay Captain Maritess Morga of North Baluarte admitted that they repacked the food packs to evenly distribute it to the residents.

Family food packs from DSWD 6 each contain 6 kilograms of rice, 10 canned goods, coffee, and milk.

As of 4 p.m. of July 24, DSWD-6 released 28,300 foods amounting to P13,548,018 to areas under ECQ.

Iloilo City received the most number of food packs at 8,000.

In Iloilo province, Sara town got 2,000 FFPs; Miag-so with 1,000 FFPs; and Balasan, Concepcion, Estancia, Oton, and San Dionisio with 1,000 FFPs each.

Tigbauan town received 800 FFPs while 500 FFPs were given to Ajuy, Alimodian, Anilao, Badiangan, Batadc Bingawan, Cabatuan, Dingle, Dumangas, Guimbal, Igbaras, Janiuay, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Pavia, San Enrique, San Joaquin, Sta. Barbara, and Tubungan. (With a report from ERS)