Mayor urged to probe ‘spoiled’ food packs

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Councilor Wilson Gamboa is asking Mayor Evelio Leonardia to  investigate the condition of food packs distributed to families here after the city was placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) by the national Inter- Agency Task Force against the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Gamboa said Thursday that he asked Leonardia to conduct the probe in a resolution approved by the Sanggunian Panglunsod in its session Wednesday.

Leonardia issued Executive Order 69, placing Bacolod City under MECQ from September 8 to 30 pursuant to Resolution 69-A, Series of 2020 dated September 7, 2020 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Gamboa added said that because of the effect of COVID-19 on the displaced families of transport groups and some other sectors, food assistance were distributed by the City Government thru the Office of Department of Social Service and Development (DSSD).

Gamboa also said that food adulteration can have a range of harmful effects on health of individuals and can lead to toxicity in the body.

He further said that proper investigation is sought to prevent a similar incident from happening and to make sure procurement rules under Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act).

He added that “this is in aid of legislation and mechanism will be formulated in the procurement and distribution of these food assistance.”

Earlier, United Negros Drivers Operators Center secretary-general Diego Malacad that some of their members have complained that the noodles part of the food packs they received from the DSSD were expired.

They also claimed that the rice upset their stomachs.