Local officials defend DSWD after ‘smelly’ canned tuna incident

Local government officials in Oriental Mindoro defended the Department of Social Welfare and Development from backlash after “smelly” canned tunas were supposedly distributed to the beneficiaries.

Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor said the reports about the canned tuna included in the FFPs distributed by the DSWD, with allegedly unacceptable taste and smell, are not true.

“Bulok na de lata? Hindi ako naniniwala doon. Bakit? I personally tried, nagbukas ako ng isang kahon, maaaring hindi kalasa natin… ang problema iba ang brand. Hindi natin kabisado yung brand. So siguro sa panlasa ng iba, iba,” Dolor said in reply to a media query.

He also said: “Ako nalulungkot ako, honestly po, sa nagsabi na bulok ang bigas. Kasi I personally supervised the distribution nung bigas. Nahihiya ako sa DSWD noong sinabihan ang DSWD na bulok ang bigas. Kasi kita ko ang ipinamimigay na bigas ng DSWD, malinis at maayos”

Meanwhile, Calapan City Mayor Malou Morillo also came into the defense of the DSWD, saying that she is certain there is no problem with the canned goods from the DSWD.

Morillo said: “Pero yung sinasabi nila na hindi makain ng aso, ng pusa, hindi ako naniniwala doon kasi I myself nagbukas ako, tinikman ko nakita ko masarap naman…Paano po nila sasabihing hindi masarap, malasa po at masarap… Siguro nga po depende sa panlasa niyo”

The DSWD extended its gratitude to the LGUs of Oriental Mindoro and Calapan City for recognizing the agency’s efforts in assisting and providing immediate assistance to the oil-spill affected residents in the province.

To determine whether the canned tuna is safe for the consumption of DSWD beneficiaries, the department will submit samples of the questioned canned tuna to the Food and Drug Administration.

The DSWD also recalled the canned tunas from the prepositioned relief goods and will discontinue the production of FFPs using the brand while the investigation is still ongoing.