DSWD to public: Don't joke about disaster aid

The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Thursday called on the public to respect and exercise sensitivity should they share social media posts about family food packs and relief aid given to calamity victims.

This was after a netizen from Davao Oriental allegedly jested about selling relief items that he received from the DSWD following the earthquake that hit the province.

In a statement, DSWD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao urged the public not to create or share social media posts that make fun of or mislead people about the government agency’s humanitarian assistance operations.

“These misleading contents, when disseminated online, trivialize disaster response efforts by the government and other humanitarian organizations,” Dumlao stressed.

Earlier, a netizen from Banaybanay, Davao Oriental allegedly posted a Facebook reel that showed six boxes of family food packs from the DSWD that he was supposedly putting up for sale.

The DSWD's statement said the netizen later apologized for the joke and took down the social media post.

However, Dumlao said spreading false information about relief aid disrespects the dignity of calamity victims and other recipients of the DSWD’s aid programs.

She added that such false information also hinders the efficient delivery of relief aid to those who need it most.

Dumlao said family food packs and relief items should not be the subject of jokes as it may cause distress and confusion among recent victims of disasters.

“We also call on citizens to verify facts before sharing, and to use social media responsibly,” she said.

“One of the notable traits of Filipinos during disasters is our resilience. However, not all of us have the same level of resilience. Some affected individuals may experience greater stress levels or trauma than others, so we are requesting citizens to exercise compassion and respect when discussing or sharing information online,” Dumlao added.

The public to may check the DSWD’s official Facebook page, its X and Youtube accounts for announcements and updates about its relief assistance for victims of recent storms and earthquakes. — JMA, GMA Integrated News