DSWD vowed to improve condition of NCR warehouse
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) vowed to comply with the Commission of Audit (COA) recommendation with regards to the improvement of the warehouse operated by the DSWD Field Office-National Capital Region (NCR).
Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian has already ordered FO-NCR Director Michael Joseph Lorico to physically inspect the warehouse and check the condition of the stockpile of relief goods.
“The words ‘state of disrepair’ and ‘lack of cleanliness and organization’ are not acceptable to the DSWD’s manual of housing relief items in any of our warehouses or facilities,” the DSWD said.
“Rest assured that the DSWD management is already looking into this concern to fast-track the apply the necessary changes to improve the stockpiling, cleanliness, and condition of the NCR warehouse,” it added.
Aside from the immediate inspection, the DSWD chief also ordered to sort out all relief supplies to ensure that no outdated items will be distributed to areas that will be hit by disaster or calamities, the DSWD spokesperson said.
The Department will also take into consideration the regular pest control and repairs to improve the condition of the storage facility, which is operated and managed by FO-NCR.
The National Resource Operations Center (NROC), the main disaster hub of the DSWD located in Pasay City, can temporarily hold some of the family food packs (FFPs) from the regional warehouse until the situation in the said facility is sorted out, according to the DSWD Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG).
Earlier, the COA has called the attention of the DSWD-NCR on the poor condition of warehouses for food and non-food relief goods.
The findings were stated in the 238-page Consolidated Report on the Audit of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Funds released last September 18.
The two-storey warehouse in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) facility was being used by the DSWD for the storage of relief goods and food packs intended for people affected by calamities.
AUTHOR PROFILE
RAY OF HOPE
