DSWD traces source of rotten rice in Mayorga, Leyte

MANILA -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is looking into reports that rice distributed to some areas in typhoon-hit Leyte have begun to rot. [ROT -- http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/regions/12/04/13/typhoon-survivors-given-rotten-rice] Speaking with "Mornings @ ANC" on Thursday, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman said they are now on the 8th round of relief deliveries to Mayorga and other parts of Leyte, and are repacking food supplies good for 8 days. "We need to check Mayorga because this is not the first time we are getting complaints about distribution in Mayorga," Soliman said. "We'll have to send another team there to ascertain if the reason that he (Mayorga Mayor Alexander de Paz) is giving is coming out of the packages...or is it because of his own storage at the municipal hall," she added. The DSWD said the local government could be held liable if found to have been the source of the rotten rice. The mayor earlier admitted throwing away 300 sacks of rice from the DSWD, saying that the rice was already rotten. [ROTTEN -- http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/12/03/13/leyte-mayor-gets-300-sacks-rotten-rice] He said the warehouse in Tacloban City, from which their rice supply came from, was also damaged by the typhoon, causing the rice to spoil and rot. He said they received rotten rice from the DSWD until November 25. The agency has since distributed new sacks of rice. Meanwhile, Soliman reiterated that the distribution of food packs will be decreased by the end of the month. "We're just going to ensure that everyone who still needs food packs will be provided and those who are able to earn from the cash-for-work and livelihood programs in different parts of Eastern and Western Visayas areas will not receive anymore because they already have a package that will allow them to buy their own food," she said. Aside from relief efforts, the DSWD is also focusing on providing shelter and shelter kits to residents in Yolanda-hit areas. -- With ANC