(From left to right) DSWD Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group Hope V. Hervilla and DSWD Secretary Virginia N. Orogo accept seized goods from BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and Port of Manila District Collector Atty. Erastus Sandino Austria.
(From left to right) DSWD Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group Hope V. Hervilla and DSWD Secretary Virginia N. Orogo accept seized goods from BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and Port of Manila District Collector Atty. Erastus Sandino Austria.

Under the directives of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) accepted brand new and used clothing and shoes that were seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) last month for distribution to families affected by Typhoon Ompong.

DSWD Secretary Virginia N. Orogo and DSWD Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group Hope V. Hervilla received the seized goods from BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and District Collector Atty. Erastus Sandino Austria at the BOC warehouse at the port area in the city of Manila. The items which were turned over included two containers of 130 bales of used clothes, 32 boxes of new shoes, and five bales of new t-shirts.

In order to assure that the items will not pose health hazards, DSWD and BOC personnel held a one-week inspection to check all the items, especially the used clothing, before turning over the items for distribution to ‘Ompong’ survivors in the northern parts of Luzon. The items will also be subjected for fumigation to ensure the safety of the recipients.

“We are very thankful for the donations for the victims of Typhoon Ompong and other calamities. We have directed all our regional offices that upon arrival of the donations, they will go directly to the beneficiaries to distribute these,” assured Sec. Orogo. ###