Manila: The Philippine government’s social welfare department on Wednesday dismissed claims by a group of Typhoon Haiyan victims that they had been bribed into giving positive feedback on their relief work.
“We do not coerce Yolanda [Haiyan] victims,” Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said in a statement in response to claims by the People Surge that some of the victims forced to issue “favourable feedback” about its relief work on condition that 1,200 pesos (Dh100) would be issued to their name.
The DSWD had been in charge of recording beneficiaries of government assistance in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan, which struck Eastern, Central and Western Visayas regions last November 8, 2013.
The funds are from the state conditional cash transfer programme, a poverty alleviation scheme.
“It is our duty to serve the public, and as such, we do not work to receive praise but to provide services. DSWD has always been open to criticism and welcomes constructive comments or complaints,” Soliman said.
In defence of the department, the Presidential palace challenged People Surge to back their accusations with proof.
“It is the duty of the accuser to show proof supporting his accusations,” Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said.
Meanwhile, Soliman also denied allegations that the government had been burying truckloads of donated food items at a dumpsite in Leyte provinces’ Palo town after the items lapsed their expiration dates.
“Upon checking with Palo Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) Head Rosalina Balderas, it was found that only one sack of assorted biscuits, 10 cups of instant noodles, 25 kilos of wet rice, and one sack of used clothing were buried contrary to a media report that there were truckloads of them,” Soliman said.
Reports had earlier quoted People Surge spokesperson Dr Eflida Bautista as saying that it was saddening that the municipal office had been forced to dispose of unused food stocks “while thousands of Yolanda (Haiyan) victims are still languishing in hunger…”
“Why blame the donors? Why blame the victims for not claiming them?” she said.
Earlier, victims had blamed the government for not putting in place an efficient aid distribution system.
Haiyan was among the most powerful typhoons to hit the country since records began. Despite preparations by the government days before its arrival, it left massive devastation — tearing down permanent structures with its powerful winds and swamping coastal areas with water.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said at least 6,200 people died from the calamity while less than a thousand remain unaccounted for.
