Repacking of DSWD food packs punishable by law, Gatchalian warns

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday, Aug. 19 warned that tampering with or repacking the agency’s family food packs (FFPs) is illegal and constitutes a criminal act.

Gatchalian reiterated the warning following reports of repacking incidents circulating on social media and the actual filing of cases with the Office of the Ombudsman.

“The DSWD stands firm that we do not allow repacking. We are looking at the veracity of the complaints received through email, and other complaints that may arise,” he said.

Gatchalian added that, following the DSWD’s receipt of complaints via email, an internal investigation committee has been commissioned to look into the matter.

“We would like to remind all recipients of family food packs or FFPs that tampering of relief goods distributed by the DSWD is a criminal act. This includes opening the contents to redistribute them in smaller quantities to affected families, or replacing the DSWD goods with inferior or lesser quality items,” he said.

One box of FFP contains six kilograms of rice, four cans of tuna, two cans of sardines, four cans of corned beef, five sachets of three-in-one coffee, and five sachets of cereal drink.

Under Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, Section 19 prohibits certain acts, with offenders liable and subject to penalties as prescribed in Section 20 of the same law.

The prohibited acts include diverting or misdelivering relief goods, equipment, or aid commodities to anyone other than the rightful recipient or consignee, and accepting, possessing, using, or disposing of relief goods, equipment, or other aid commodities not intended for or consigned to the individual.

Another prohibited act under the law is misrepresenting the source of relief goods, equipment, or aid commodities by covering, replacing, or defacing labels to falsely attribute them to another agency or person, or by repacking them into containers with different markings to create the appearance of origin from another agency or person.

Violators may face a fine of P50,000 to P500,000, imprisonment of six to twelve years, or both, at the court’s discretion, as well as perpetual disqualification from public office if a public officer, and confiscation or forfeiture of the objects and instrumentalities used in committing the prohibited acts.

“We hope that through this warning, we will be able to ensure that all the eligible beneficiaries will receive the correct quality and quantity of goods that are rightfully theirs,” Gatchalian said.