Barbers thanks relief aid donors for Odette victims in Surigao del Norte
SURIGAO del Norte Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers on Monday expressed his gratitude to both the private sector donors as well as all government agencies in charge of relief operations for their immediate response to deliver aid to the victims of super typhoon Odette in the province of Surigao del Norte.
However, Barbers, whose district was also battered by Super Typhoon Odette, urged the Departments of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to look into reports in social media that relief goods delivered to the province are allegedly being repacked by some unscrupulous politicians who place their names and pictures on the bags before giving them to the people, adding to the delay in distribution of the much-needed aid.
Once verified, Barbers said he will recommend the immediately filing of cases against these politicians.
“This is not the time to advance political interest. Our people need aid and life savers, not political gimmicks. Let us put the interest of people above all else and put order in the distribution system. In our Asian neighbors, people line up and wait. No names or pictures of politicians appear on the boxes and bags of relief goods. We must emulate these disciplined practices and set good examples to our constituents”, Barbers said.
