THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) urged the public to respect family food packs and other relief items in times of disaster.
The warning came after a viral video, which was already removed, gained traction after the suspect showed off six boxes of DSWD family food packs, which he was supposedly selling.
The individual in the video was from the quake-affected town of Banaybanay in Davao Oriental, who made fun of the family packs by jokingly selling the items.
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said spreading false information disrespects the dignity of individuals and communities who are legitimate recipients of DSWD aid.
She added that it hinders the transparent delivery of assistance, especially to those in need.
“As the lead agency on disaster response, the DSWD urges the public to refrain from creating social media posts that make fun of the ongoing distribution of aid for disaster-stricken families,” Dumlao said in a press release.
“These misleading contents, when disseminated online, trivialize disaster response efforts by the government and other humanitarian organizations,” she added.
DSWD reported that the individual later admitted that the Facebook reel he posted was only a joke, as he was aware that food packs are not for sale, as indicated in the boxes.
After apologizing for his bad joke, the netizen later took down his Facebook post.
Dumlao emphasized that food packs should not be made fun of, especially on social media, as making them a joke can affect individuals.
She said that while resilience is one of the notable traits of Filipinos, the level of resilience varies for each individual.
‘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,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
