A huge fire engulfed a coastal community in Barangay Pusok in Lapu-Lapu City on Tuesday afternoon. | PIO photo
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – The “no used clothing donation” policy is currently being enforced for victims of the Lapu-Lapu City fire who are staying in evacuation centers.
This, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) officials, is consistent with the provision of Republic Act No. 4653, in order to prevent fire victims from health hazards that may be transmitted through used clothing.
R.A. 4653 prohibits the commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags.
READ: DSWD reiterates policy discouraging donation of used clothes
“As for DSWD, wala na gyud mi gahatag og used clothing. Sa mga gusto mo-donate, ang awhag sa DSWD sukad kaniadto nga kung mohatag relief items labi na ang clothing, kadto gyud bag-o,” Leah Quintana said, information officer of DSWD-7.
However, Quintana said that if it cannot be prevented and a donor would donate used clothing, she appealed to donors to only donate those that were still usable.
READ: LOOK: Fire razes 300 homes in Lapu-Lapu City
“Naa na sa individuals unsa kalumo ilang kasingkasing sa paghatag sa mga butang nga magamit pa gyud sa nabiktima sa kalamidad,” she added.
Earlier, Nagiel Bañacia, the head of the Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), posted on his Facebook account regarding donating used clothing, which elicited negative comments from netizens.
In a post, Bañacia said that they will not acncept used clothing as donations, describing it as garbage and rags.
“No used clothing please, dili modawat ug used clothing ang evacuation center. Sa mga nag organize ug relief campaign, dili mi modawat ug used clothing. Mas maayo bag-o. Mga biktima sa sunog dili basurahan,” Bañacia said in a post.
Several groups and individuals were conducting relief campaigns, to help the fire victims from Sitio Sta. Maria, Barangay Pusok in Lapu-Lapu City, after a huge fire hit the area affecting around 8,000 individuals.
Bañacia also suggested to the public to donate the following: ready-to-eat food, water, new clothes, burners, tents, comforters, underwear, diapers, slippers, shoes, cash, and others.
READ: Lapu-Lapu fire: Chan urges Council to declare State of Calamity
The statement of Bañacia was contrary to the statement of Congresswoman Cindi King-Chan.
Chan, however, clarified that there were some organizations, such as JCI Mactan Reyna Bulakna and Batang Opon, that are accepting used clothing as donations.
She further clarified that the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) was no longer accepting used clothing due to a shortage of manpower to segregate these donations.
“Ang CSWDO wala na mudawat og used clothes tungod sa kakuwang sa manpower nga mu segregate sa mga donasyon. Apan, naa kitay mga private organizations nga nag handle og donation drives nga willing mudawat niini, mu segregate ug muhatod lahos sa mga pamilyang nasunugan,” Chan said in a post.
“Ang ubang mga sinena nga gihatag dili na magamit. Atoang siguraduhon nga ang atong mga e donate sa mga nasunugan kay magamit gyud nila labi na karon nga wala pa gyud silay igong ikapalit sa mga panginahanglunon ug dili atong kinahanglan napod ipang dispose,” she added.