Department of Social Welfare & Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral continues to deny what blogger Ella Rose has posted in the internet – that relief goods are rotting. Cabral refused to be interviewed by US-based Philippine News. She simply stated through her secretary that “there were no volunteers”. And yet, thousands of volunteers, mostly adolescents were trying to get in to help. Only 50 volunteers at a time were allowed to get in with each shift lasting a maximum of 4 hours.
The Philippine government literally begged the world for donations. Boat loads and plane loads of relief goods poured in. Cash donations worth millions of dollars came but President Gloria Arroyo declared that all donations must be coursed through the DSWD.
In one large DSWD warehouse measuring over 1,000 sq.m., relief goods were stack piled up to the roof. Yet, there was only one security guard and one DSWD employee seen manning the warehouse.
The United States, Australia, Japan and other countries responded with several tons of relief goods but the donations remain stacked in three DSWD warehouses. Only God knows if the items will ever be distributed.
Should we really be surprised if these donated goods end up being sold in Divisoria markets a few months from now? – ?