The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) emphasized anew that there are stringent measures and mechanisms in place to safeguard the agency’s programs and services from politicking, including its provision of family food packs (FFPs) in times of calamities or emergencies.
Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), who is also the agency’s spokesperson, reiterated that tampering or repacking of the Department’s FFPs is strictly prohibited.
“Palaging mine-mention natin sa mga partners na dapat po hindi mata-tamper, hindi bubuksan, hindi i-rerepack [ang ating mga family food packs] sapagkat ipinagbabawal po ang repacking sa ating umiiral na panuntunan at batas,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao told reporters at the media forum held at the DSWD’s New Press Center in Quezon City.
In every aid distribution, the DSWD also deploys its Quick Response Teams (QRTs), serving as watchdogs to ensure that the assistance is provided to rightful beneficiaries and is not subject to malpractice or abuse, according to the DSWD spokesperson.
“Meron tayong mga personnel na nade-deploy as part of the quick response teams na kasama doon sa distribution para again, mabantayan at matiyak na naibabahagi po sa mga apektado ng disaster yong pong mga tulong na pinapaabot natin,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao explained to the members of Media.
The DSWD spokesperson underscored that the Department maintains constructive relationships with partners as harmonious coordination with disaster responders and groups benefits the public.
The agency, however, will not be deterred from taking appropriate actions should partners commit illegal acts and undermine the rules and regulations of the Department.
“On the part of the DSWD, mahalaga na ma-establish ang fact, kung kaya nga po pag may mga report na pinapaulat sa DSWD, agad po kaming nagsasagawa ng fact-finding investigation kung ano yung case talaga, and then we lead o nangunguna rin po tayo sa filing ng appropriate cases,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao explained.
Under Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act of 2010, certain acts relative to the delivery of refief aid are prohibited and those who commit them will be held liable and be subjected to the penalties.
The prohibited acts include diverting or misdelivering of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities to persons other than the rightful recipient or consignee; accepting, possessing, using or disposing relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities not intended for nor consigned to him/her.
No one is also allowed to misrepresent the source of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities by tampering or repacking to insinuate the items came from another agency or persons.
“‘Pag po may violation maaari silang ma-penalize at magmulta ng Php50,000 to Php500,000 or makulong ng 6 years up to 12 years and maaari naman pong both upon the discretion of the court,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
Perpetual disqualification from public office may also be imposed 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 the prohibited acts. (LSJ)