Philippine Government's Relief Efforts of Super Typhoon Haiyan Victims Continue despite criticisms in Social Media.

Criticisms escalated in the social media to the relief efforts of the Philippine government to the millions of people affected by Typhoon Haiyan with local name Yolanda. This was after a volunteer posted on Facebook its complaints on how the government do the repacking of the relief goods.

As shown on the image below, a volunteer disagreed the system on repacking the packed food items donated by Indonesia. The repacking is headed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development VII and assisted by the Philippine Air Force inside the Mactan Airbase in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

Most of the food items that came from Indonesia were canned goods, noodles, biscuits, some were liquid items inside the bottle and cooking oil.

Upset in the way of separating relief goods, the volunteer said the repacking will make the relief operation in the affected areas of the typhoon slower. She was also disappointed in using plastic bags printed with DSWD relief operation even most of the donations came from other country.

Information Officer from the Philippine Air Force 2^nd Air Division Rene Piabol Jr defended on the repacking issue of relief assistance saying they need to repack the relief goods.

“A family pack of relief items from Indonesia is not enough for a three day meal for a big family,that is why we are adding rice and other canned goods and place it in bigger plastic bags” Piabol said, saying repacking is necessary.

Piabol added, that expiration dates of the relief foods from other countries are checked before giving to the recipients.

Relief items in liquid form like soy sauce, tomato sauce and cooking oil inside bottles and plastic bags must be separated from other food items to avoid spill over to other dry goods. Broken bottles are also dangerous to volunteers that carry the reliefs.

People are allowed to witness the actual repacking inside the Mactan Benito Ebuen Airbase to see operations going.

The DSWD continue to their job despite criticisms, thus calling more volunteers for the repacking of relief goods because donations and other humanitarian aid from other countries around the world continue to arrive in Cebu.