Stiff penalties for buying, selling of gov’t relief goods

The sale and purchase of disaster / calamity relief supplies is prohibited by law with violators facing up to 12 years in jail, the Department of Social Welfare and Development warned yesterday after reports circulated that relief packs were being retailed in a variety store in Iligan City.

The DSWD pointed out that Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 prohibits the selling and buying of the department’s family food packs, and other relief goods, either for consumption or reselling.

“The DSWD does not tolerate and strongly condemns the selling and buying of the Department’s relief goods. We would like to inform the public that those who commit such acts will be held liable and will be penalized under the law,” DSWD Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel Leyco said.

Misrepresenting the source of relief goods either by covering or replacing the labels, repacking the goods into containers with different markings, or by making a false verbal claim that the goods came from another agency or persons, and, substituting or replacing relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities with the same items of inferior or cheaper quality, are also prohibited by the law.

Leyco reminded the public that those who will commit any of the prohibited acts will be fined from P50,000 to P500,000 or will face imprisonment of from six to 12 years.