A lawmaker at the House of Representatives on Monday appealed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to release its stockpile of relief goods budgeted for the first quarter of this year.

Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao said these stockpiles should be distributed to all the poor, low income, and middle-income families in the barangays immediately given the fact that there are no high-impact typhoons, major earthquakes, and similar calamities from January to March this year.

“These relief goods are already in the DSWD warehouses and NFA (National Food Authority) warehouses. They are part of the DSWD budget for 2021. Some are perishable and have expiry and ‘best before’ dates. Release all these stockpiles now, please,” Siao said.

He said the release and distribution of those reserves of relief goods can be done starting this week, noting that the DSWD can replenish those stockpiles in April, May, and onwards for the monsoon and typhoon months.

“In these eyes of these Filipino families, those stockpiles of relief goods represent the taxes they paid through income tax, VAT, and other taxes. As taxpayers, they are correct,” Siao said.

He recognized the “bayanihan” spirit showcased by Filipinos through community pantries that have swiftly emerged across the country.

The community pantry concept allows people to help other people in need and fosters trust in the community.

“Itong ilalabas na relief goods ng DSWD ay makakatulong sa community pantry initiative at ipinapayo kong agad na ipamahagi itong DSWD relief goods nang house-to-house (The release of relief goods by the DSWD could help the community pantry initiative, and I suggest that the DSWD distribute these relief goods immediately through house-to-house distribution)”, he said. (PNA)