DAVAO CITY (September 15) — Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has ordered Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña to release all seized food items in its warehouses to augment the needed goods in preparation for Typhoon Ompong.
During the briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) Thursday, Dominguez told President Rodrigo Duterte that he already asked Lapeña to release the confiscated goods and food stuff “So we can add these to the inventory of stocks, to help those affected by Typhoon Ompong.”
Citing Government to Government Agreement, Dominguez said seized food and other stuff can immediately be transferred during emergencies.
The same goods will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Dominguez said .
“Sid (Lapeña), Please release all seized rice and food stuff in your possession to the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) for possible disaster relief,” Dominguez said in a message shared to journalists Thursday afternoon.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday held a command conference at the NDRRMC office in Quezon City as part of preparations for the impact of the typhoon.-ezc/NewsLine
