TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE (PIA)- It is not fair for people working on the ground!
These were the words that caught the ire of Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman as she referred to a media report which mentioned of non-distribution of relief goods in “Ruby” stricken Eastern Samar.
Speaking in the meeting at the capitol building which was presided by DILG Secretary Mar Roxas with local officials in attendance, Soliman strongly denied a report that went on national television, Monday evening, December 8.
Disappointed at the particular broadcast, she then requested the media covering the government response of “Ruby” wreckage, to check the information before they are released to public. The report however was differently treated in another giant TV network, Soliman said.
“One interviewee might not be enough to gather an information”, Soliman said. “It must be validated if only to make sure of an information subject for press release”, she added.
Borongan and the rest of Samar provinces are still in total black out due to the undetermined number of electrical posts that are either leaning or totally damaged, which was why, Soliman among others in the team was not able to capture the report.
At present, all news released on TV are all coming from the coverage team who are part of the first government responders, but these are only being monitored in Metro Manila and other areas with electricity.
In her Food Distribution Updates, Soliman reported of 50-kilo sacks of rice distributed to all municipalities, ranging from 200 to 4,000 sacks, depending on the extent of damage wrought by “Ruby”.
They are also setting-up Distribution Hubs in the wharfs of Maslog and Jipapad to facilitate the speedy relief distribution. The two are upstream municipalities of the province.
Another sub-hub in San Julian will be installed while the main hubs are in Catarman, Northern Samar, Borongan and Tacloban.
Soliman likewise mentioned that government cash assistance will go to those whose houses were partially and totally damaged at P10,000.00 and P30,000.oo respectively.
In soft numbers, Soliman said there are 299 evacuation centers in Eastern Samar, 41,448 affected families and 203,000 plus individuals. Totally damaged houses are 12,982 while 22,363 are partially damaged ones.
There were eight lives that were lost to “Ruby” as reported.(PIA-08)
