New DSWD warehouse to rise in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 3 (PNA) –- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will build a PHP40-million warehouse for better storage of relief goods meant for disaster victims.

DSWD Eastern Visayas Regional Director Restituto Macuto said the national government has already earmarked PHP30 million to construct the new permanent warehouse at the Government Center in Palo, Leyte.

“We need additional PHP10 million for filing of the 5,000-square meter lot donated by the provincial government for the new warehouse,” Macuto told reporters.

The local government will enter a 25-year usufruct agreement with DSWD on the use of the property.

Recently, the DSWD asked funding assistance from the Department of Public Works and Highways for land preparation since the cost is not included in the original budget proposal.

Macuto said the new warehouse is badly needed since the DSWD regional office has been renting a storage facility in the city for PHP200,000 monthly. The rented warehouse is located in Caibaan village.

“The proposed warehouse is safe from storm surges, flooding and pilferage. The location is strategic, hence, it will be easy for us to bring relief goods to needed communities,” Macuto said.

Patterned after the DSWD’s National Resource Operation Center, the warehouse will store rice, assorted food packs, blankets, cooking implements, and mosquito nets.

The DSWD pushed for construction of new warehouses after an internal investigation by the agency found that the food packs and sacks of rice dumped in Leyte last year were meant for distribution to victims of typhoon Ruby and Glenda that hit the country in 2014.

Poor storage made the food items unfit for human consumption, according to DSWD. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO