Secretary Erwin Tulfo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Friday denied the claim of Noveleta, Cavite Mayor Dino Chua of incompetence in the release and distribution of government assistance due to stringent requirements being asked from victims of severe tropical storm Paeng.
Interviewed over radio dzBB, Tulfo said that investigation showed that the agency was able to deliver enough food aid to the people of Noveleta, and that the remaining 300 individuals failed to avail of the assistance because their names were not on the list of the barangay or the local government unit.
“The mayor was not around when the aid was given out. Only his personnel and the barangay officials were there. Last Oct. 31, we sent them (LGU) 1,600 boxes of food packs. How could it happen that only 200 people were able to receive [them]?” he asked.
He said all that was being asked from the victims were ID cards.
“In times of calamities, your name must be listed in the barangay or the chairman must know you. The problem lies in the report of the mayor. It seems that it was fake news,” he said.
He said the DSWD is just following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to rely on the list of the LGUs.
“When I asked the village chairman about the residents of those seeking assistance, he could not tell or identify [them]. We need proof to show to the Commission on Audit,” Tulfo said.
“Should COA question us about where the allocated aid for Noveleta went, at least we would have a list to show,” he added.
The Noveleta mayor, however, said the 1,600 food packages from DSWD were intended for other evacuation centers, and for Barangay San Juan in his town.
“Secretary Tulfo arrived at the San Jose evacuation center, bringing along food packs separately for the evacuation center. That is where the shortage is,” he said.
Earlier, Tulfo relieved Region 4A director Barry Chua and Assistant Regional Director Mylah Gatchalian and transferred them to the DSWD central office in Quezon City while the investigation was being conducted.
The reported number of fatalities due to severe tropical storm Paeng increased to 154, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Friday.
In its 6 a.m. report, the NDRRMC said only 101 of the reported deaths have been confirmed so far while the other 53 are still up for validation.
Most of the fatalities were in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 63 deaths, followed by Calabarzon and Western Visayas with 33 each.
The NDRRMC said 128 were reported injured and 35 were reported missing.
A total of 4,124,267 people or 1,176,074 families in 9,107 barangays across all regions were affected by Paeng.
Of the total affected population, 123,024 people or 31,204 families were staying inside 1,186 evacuation centers, while 911,226 people or 328,264 families were taking shelter in other places.
A total of 25,109 houses were damaged—22,487 partially and 2,622 totally.
About P2.709 billion damage to agriculture due to Paeng was reported.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) reported P36.940 million worth of damage.
Paeng also reportedly caused P2.913 billion damage to infrastructure.
A total of 437 cities and municipalities were declared under a state of calamity.
The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said at least 15 health facilities were damaged during the storm.
At the press briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said these 15 health facilities damaged are from Regions 3, 4A, 6, 12, and the Cordillera Autonomous Region.
She said all of these facilities are functional, while minor damage was being repaired.