DSWD:  Five countries left in Yolanda relief ops

The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Wednesday clarified that there are still five countries on the ground providing aid to survivors of Typhoon Yolanda along with foreign agencies.

At a press briefing, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said that these countries were Japan, Australia, Italy, Canada and the US. More foreign agencies are still in typhoon-hit areas, she added.

Sec. Dinky: Japan, Australia, Italy, Canada & US still on the ground. More ground foreign agencies still in #yolandaPH affected

— DSWD (@dswdserves) December 11, 2013

This department's explanation came after news reports that only three countries remained in the relief operations, with foreign presence in the disaster zone scaling down one month after the storm struck.

Soliman also answered some controversies hounding the ongoing relief efforts. She noted that the reported Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) food rations from the US military that were sold online and in local grocery stores had not been intended for typhoon victims.

As of Wednesday, DSWD has delivered more than 2.9 million food pacts to typhoon survivors through the help of some 170,000 volunteers. The department has received P54 million and $14 million worth of donations from local and foreign donors, respectively.

Sec. dinky: DSWD & LGUs are closely coordinating to make sure goods are delivered to affected families in E. Visayas @dinkysunflower @govph

— DSWD (@dswdserves) December 11, 2013

Soliman reiterated that they have reached all the affected barangays in Regions 4-B, 6, 7 and 8. She added that about 52 trucks are transporting relief goods with non-food items to affected residents.

The DSWD chief added that next week she and other “development partners” will meet to tackle the recovery and rehabilitation plan in typhoon-ravaged areas.

Meanwhile, Soliman was mum on the disaster response issue between Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez. Soliman was with Roxas in Tacloban City when the super typhoon hit.

Sec. Soliman: "Huwag na nating palakihin (girian nina Roxas at Romualdez) dahil hindi ito nakatutulong sa bansa at sa bayan" @dzbb

— Glen Juego (@glenjuego) December 11, 2013

Typhoon Yolanda swept through central Philippines on November 9, killing more than 5,900 people. More than a thousand are still missing. Damage to property was estimated at P35.547 billion, according to the latest government record. — BM, GMA News