Bacolod DSSD apologizes for 'expired' goods

DEPARTMENT of Social Services and Development (DSSD) head Pacita Tero apologized to the Bacolodnons over the alleged expired food packs given by the City Government as aid for public utility vehicle drivers affected by the implementation of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

"I would like to apologize for the things that happened although, it's not intentional but because of our immediate respond, with the intention to help, it was not really checked the content of the food packages," Tero said.

She said not all of the food packages have a problem.

She added that according to the National Food Authority (NPA), the rice that were purchased by the city were newly milled from Iloilo and it was the same stocks that were distributed to some areas in Western Visayas and Negros Occidental.

The City earlier released the food packs for the affected residents, especially the drivers of public transportation as the city has been placed under MECQ to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The DSSD repacked about 40,000 food packs and distributed it to the 61 barangays.

Diego Malacad, secretary general of United Negros Drivers and Operator Center (Undoc), earlier expressed dismay over the alleged expired food packs.

He said that more than 600 public transportation drivers in Barangay Handumanan received the food packs last week, but most of them were disappointed because the goods were expired and not suitable for human consumption.

He said each driver received a food pack with five to seven kilos of rice from NFA, four noodles and sardines.

"The noodles and rice are no longer suitable for human consumption," he added.

Tero explained that in June and July, most of the Bacolodnons availed themselves of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) grant so the city opted to stop for a while the last tranche of food distribution.

"So in case of emergency, we already have a ready food packs and we apologize for that and if ever there's an issue on it, it would be better to raise it to the barangay so we can check on what we can do on it, and for those who are afraid to consume the food packs because of the issue just let us know because we will make necessary steps to address the problem," she said.

She said the affected residents should approach the barangay.