DSWS assures all households to get rice

CEBU, Philippines — Amid complaints regarding Cebu City government’s rice distribution, the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) has assured all households that they will be given rice as promised.

At the moment, 90 percent of the barangays have already been given the goods as the city’s help to them after the recent Typhoon Odette.

DSWS head Portia Basmayor also denied that the raffle-type coupons which indicated “Better Luck Next Time” came from their office.

Basmayor said they already checked the now viral coupon post, adding that it was one of the barangays’ ways of “stopping” those who wanted to ask for more.

“Kato among ticket among gibutang ato is kuan lang gyud to siya — DSWS Cebu City Government Rice Distribution, wala (katong better luck next time). Bale, kung kinsa toy naghimo ato strategy to nila pero dili gyud to amoa,” she said.

“‘Mao to gi-verify nako niadto ko sa barangay as per na-verify nako strategy nila kay natagaan na kuno  nila tanan ang tanang barangay so ang uban kay gusto man gud, gi-strategy, pamaagi para maapod”, she added.

Basmayor also denied selecting recipients.

Barangay Carreta, for one, has submitted its position paper to Mayor Michael Rama regarding the matter on rice distribution, as well as on the allotment of funds for the rehabilitation of their barangay hall.

As for the rice distribution,  Carreta led by its barangay captain Marciano Ando said the Mayor’s Liaison and Information Officer (MILO) was involved in the distribution contrary to what was agreed earlier. Because of this, not all residents in the barangay were given rice.

Some other barangay officials earlier also said the same thing — that the involvement of MILO in the rice distribution has caused unfair chaos and confusion, yet residents put the blame on barangay officials.

“The rice distribution would have been smooth, without  the presence of the MILO. The main cause why there was a shortageof rice in the distribution thereof in barangay Carreta was the lack of political will of Atty. Carillo (Gerry, the chairman on the City’s Disaster Council) to say “no” to MILO,” part of the position letter submitted to Rama said.

In Carreta alone, 100 sacks of rice was given to the barangay’s assigned MILO and another 50 sacks of rice to the barangay.

Had the 150 sacks of rice intended for Carrera been coursed  through the proper channel--the barangay, the 1,500 coupons prepared by barangay Captain Ando would have all been satisfied accordingly.

Rama, Portia and Carillo have not made any comment on this matter yet. — Decemay Padilla, KQD (FREEMAN)