Dinky Soliman dodges Yolanda survivors upset over DSWD's inutility

By People Surge
March 5, 2014

TACLOBAN CITY – The alliance of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) survivors in Eastern Visayas today criticized Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Corazon “Dinky” Soliman over giving them the runaround over various issues, including the recent scandal of the rotting away of P580 million worth of rice meant for typhoon victims.

“Sec. Soliman should stop mocking the Yolanda survivors by accusing them of violence when flimsy glass doors were accidentally broken during a protest last March 3 at the DSWD office,” said Sr. Edita Eslopor, People Surge spokesperson. “The protesters were in fact apologetic, calm and reasonable to the DSWD staff even though Soliman was nowhere to be found. That Soliman is inflating a minor matter to overshadow the far more serious issue of the suffering of millions the DSWD is failing to serve shows the slyness of a bureaucrat willing to slander the people to cover up her faults.

“Soliman is also using divide and rule tactics by claiming to talk with People Surge local members in Tacloban City. She knows very well that the People Surge leaders are already in Manila to bring the issue of the Yolanda survivors to President Aquino himself. We remind the DSWD Secretary that she is only further inflaming the Yolanda survivors in trying to sow discord.”

Eslopor added the Yolanda survivors are angry because the DSWD suspended relief operations at the end of December 2013, when it was actually wasting aid worth millions. The P580 million rice supplies that rotted in the Subic Free Port was actually meant for Typhoon Pablo survivors, but out of sheer inutility DSWD did not facilitate the rice and was overtaken by Typhoon Yolanda. By then it was found out the rice was already unfit for human consumption.”

The People Surge spokesperson said they wanted to meet with Soliman to find out why the Aquino government had let down both the Pablo and Yolanda survivors. “There are millions of people out there who are suffering right now because the social welfare secretary is not living up to the job description. We also think Sec. Soliman is doing her best to evade meeting Yolanda survivors who will question the dismal performance of her duties.

Contrary to DSWD's claims, it has been sorely wanting in providing for the needs of the Yolanda survivors. Its claim of having given away more than five million food packs for a maximum of 10 rounds is still highly inadequate when spread over more than 100 days after Yolanda.

Moreover, according to investigation by People Surge, most survivors in fact received food packs only once. Even the more than 16,000 individuals alleged to have been accommodated by the “cash-for-work” program is an insignificant minority out of more than one million Yolanda survivors, and these beneficiaries in fact worked for only 10 days for P250/day instead of the promised P500. The 2,052 families who also transferred to bunkhouses in fact only represent 0.17% of homeless survivors.”

Eslopor challenged Soliman to stop skirting the issue and face the Yolanda survivors. “We are very critical of the way DSWD is doing its job because it is a life and matter for millions. It is important that Sec. Soliman and her department be held accountable. The DSWD is not doing anything at all to alleviate the plight of the Yolanda survivors. It mainly acts as the facilitator for international aid agencies who are doing a better job than it. The Aquino government is even bragging that the DSWD will be helping Yolanda survivors through micro-lending. This is how low the government can get, telling people who have no livelihood that they can get buried in debt with official help.”

Eslopor said that People Surge would continue to pursue Soliman and the Aquino government in behalf of the survivors of Yolanda and other calamities.