DSWD does not distribute relief goods through NGOs, says Tulfo

Secretary Erwin Tulfo on Sunday, July 10, clarified that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) does not distribute relief goods through non-government organizations (NGOs).
“Hindi po namimigay ng mga food packs at iba pang relief items and DSWD sa mga NGO para ipamigay sa mga tao dahil ito po ay labag sa batas (DSWD does not distribute food packs and other relief items to NGOs to distribute to the people because it is against the law),” he said in a Facebook post.
Tulfo was reacting to a news photo of Angat Buhay’s relief operations for flash flood victims in Banaue, Ifugao, where boxes marked with the DSWD logo, supposedly containing relief goods, could be seen.
“Derecho po ang aming tulong sa mga tao sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga LGUs (We help the people directly through their local government units),” he pointed out,”
Based on DSWD’s initial investigation, Tulfo said it appeared that the local government of Ifugao combined the Angat Buhay relief items and the DSWD food packs in one warehouse before the photo was taken.
Angat Buhay is an NGO launched by former Vice President Leni Robredo on July 1.