THE Davao City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) on Tuesday, April 2, denied allegations of a netizen about a barangay social worker who rejected fire victims.
In a video clip posted Monday evening, April 1, but was taken down Tuesday afternoon, April 2, Facebook user Akira Verano accused a barangay social worker identified as Ellen America of prohibiting his mother and his sister’s husband from getting assistance from the local government.
He said the social worker had taken over the identification of victims who are entitled to assistance, which is supposed to be the task of barangay purok leaders.
"Wa jud kay kaluoy. Perting hilak sa akong mama ug sa asawa sa akong ate, nagpakaluoy na ilista pero giunsa ninyo (You have no mercy. My mother and my brother-in-law had been crying to include them in the list of the affected residents, but look what you've done?)," Verano said in his post.
He added, "Maski pagkaon gikan sa gobyerno ikadalo pa! Nga para man unta na sa mga nasunogan (Even the food that the government allocated, you kept it it from us!)."
Fire swept through Purok 5, Dalhia St. in Saypon, Toril on Sunday evening, March 31, affecting 39 houses and 54 families.
CSSDO head Maria Luisa Bermudo denied the resident's allegation, saying it was a case of misunderstanding.
"Wala na sila gibalibaran sa pagkaon. Naa lang misinformation, mahitungod gapadayon pa among pag-validate sa mga naapektuhan sa sunog (We never barred them from the food assistance. There was misinformation, because there is still an ongoing validation with the fire victims)," she said, pertaining to the Mobile Kitchen that the government uses during emergencies.
She said that the post made by Verano was unfair on their part.
"Gi-clear namo sa meeting sa barangay, gipa-abot namo na unfair kaayo to. Daghan na kaayo mitan-aw ato, without getting among side sa CSSDO. Karon ra mi naka-encounter og ing-ato. (During the meeting, we said that the post was unfair. Many had already seen the post online, without even getting our side. It is the first time we had encounter that incident in our service)," Bermudo said.
Bermudo also said the supposed burned residence of Verano's mother is an internet shop, which falls under commercial establishment.
She also said the video does not show that the residents were barred from getting any assistance.
"Under our guidelines (CSSDO), we do not give financial assistance to owners of affected commercial lots, although they are given food," she said.
However, the social service official said that they are still validating if the establishment was also the home of the owner.
Bermudo said ration cards are given to affected residents who are validated and confirmed by barangay officals and CSSDO.
She said other agencies are now assisting the residents.
Bermudo said CSSDO will finish distributing financial assistance within the week.
SunStar Davao tried reaching out to Verano, but he has not responded.