Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Sunday castigated the Department of Social Welfare and Development for not learning its lessons on how to respond to the immediate needs of calamity victims despite the lapse of two years after Super Typhoon “Yolanda’’ devastated the Visayan region.
The vice presidential candidate said the DSWD continues to distribute uncooked rice and noodles and conventional canned goods to evacuees even if they have no tools with which to cook such goods, when most of them are in need of food they can eat immediately.
“Up to now the DSWD is still doing that. Relief operation should be more relevant, should be more realistic and not simply for a show,” Escudero said, referring to food packs distributed by the department to victims of recent calamities.
Escudero reiterated his call for the DSWD to set up “soup kitchens” in barangays to feed residents displaced by calamities.
He said he made the suggestion as early as 2013 after Yolanda left a trail of widespread destruction in Central Philippines.
The veteran lawmaker said they have been doing the same in his home province of Sorsogon for the past years.
“If they really want to help, like in our province [Sorsogon], there is a need to build a soup kitchen to immediately help the victims,” said Escudero.
He also related that the victims had no tools as they lost their houses. How will they cook rice? The soup kitchen should be made open 24/7.
“Whoever is hungry can fall in line and eat. It goes on for about a week after the typhoon struck. That is more relevant help. That is more needed help. And then after that we immediately go to rehabilitation,” the senator said.
Escudero immediately flew to his home province of Sorsogon, one of the hardest hit by Typhoon ‘‘Nona,’’ on Dec. 17 to aid his provincemates following the devastation.
He said the efficient evacuation and relief efforts employed by the local government helped the Sorsoganons quickly get back on their feet.
“Two days after Nona hit, there’s no one in the evacuation center anymore. Everybody went home to try to rebuild their lives and their houses. And that’s how it should be done. It’s how we like it to be done,” Escudero said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has reported that damage to agriculture and infrastructure reached a combined total of P4.9 billion from Typhoon Nona and tropical depression Onyok, as of Dec. 22.
At least 45 people were killed when the twin storms successively hit the country last week with Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas suffering the most damage.