The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday, Aug. 31, disputed the ₱1,503.84 price tag being circulated online for its family food packs, saying the figure referred to the maximum amount allowed for the procurement package, not the actual cost of each food pack.

DSWD Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the actual winning bid for the food packs cited in the post was ₱797.80 per box, submitted by 2 Go Global International Corporation.

“₱797.80 lang ang halaga ng bawat kahon ng food packs na nasa post based on the winning bid. Kaya mali ang pinalalabas sa isang social media post na ₱1,503.84 ang halaga ng bawat family food pack ng DSWD (The food packs in the post cost only ₱797.80 per box based on the winning bid. Therefore, it is wrong to claim in a social media post that each DSWD family food pack costs ₱1,503.84),” Dumlao said.

The DSWD spokesperson urged the public to direct questions or complaints to the agency and to exercise caution when sharing information from social media.

“Hindi po nakatutulong ang mga ganitong misinformation, lalo’t higit sa panahon na ang atensiyon dapat ay nakatuon sa mabilisang pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng mga nasalanta (This kind of misinformation does not help, especially at a time when attention should be focused on responding quickly to the needs of disaster-affected families),” Dumlao said.

“Nag-aappeal din po kami sa mga concerned citizens na siguraduhin ang inyong dokumento ay accurate sa inyong pagshare. Inuulit din po namin na ang DSWD ay bukas sa lahat ng komento at reklamo (We also appeal to concerned citizens to make sure that the documents they share are accurate. We reiterate that the DSWD is open to all comments and complaints),” she added.

Dumlao said the amount indicated in the bidding document was based on market scoping and covered procurement specifications, packaging, logistics, delivery, and other factors related to the project.

“We would like to clarify that the amount of procurement of family food packs differs per bid. The total amount spent for family food packs depends on the winning bid. The bid document which was posted is a public document and is the maximum bid amount of the package of items,” she said.

She said the DSWD uses a simplified approach in procuring food packs to help ensure the availability and quick delivery of food assistance to families affected by disasters.

“Dumadaan sa ‘competitive bidding’ ng DSWD ang lahat ng procurement ng family food packs kung saan ang may pinakamababang price bid offer at compliant sa mga specifications at iba pang requirements ang idinedeklarang bid winner (All DSWD procurement of family food packs goes through competitive bidding, where the bidder offering the lowest price while complying with the specifications and other requirements is declared the winner),” Dumlao said.

Under the process, the DSWD Bids and Awards Committee evaluates suppliers based on their technical, financial, and legal requirements and determines the lowest calculated and responsive bid in accordance with government procurement rules.

Each family food pack contains six kilograms of rice, four cans of tuna flakes, four cans of corned beef, two cans of sardines, five sachets of instant coffee, and five sachets of choco malt drink.

DSWD said the composition of the food packs was endorsed to the National Nutrition Council and follows the Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake formulated by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

The contents are intended to provide affected families with a combination of staple food, protein sources, energy, and essential nutrients.

However, the food packs are not intended to replace a family’s regular food supply for an extended period.

DSWD said the food assistance is intended to help sustain a family of five for two to three days.