Victims of the Mindoro oil spill have taken to social media to voice complaints about canned goods distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that taste bad.

The recipients of the DSWD’s Family Food Packs are victims of the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.

Ocean’s Best Tuna, included in the DSWD’s Family Food Packs, has been the subject of numerous complaints from recipients of the food aid. Despite not being expired, the canned tuna has a foul odor and unpleasant taste, as claimed by numerous social media posts.

“Sayang lang kasi di mo talaga siya makain at nakaka-disappoint lang kasi oo mahirap kami pero di naman deserve makakain ng ganyan,” said Mary Jane Valdez Lusterio.

“Ganyan din bibigay dito samin sa Naujan hindi rin makain, kahit igisa. Tinorta na ganon pa din ang amoy at lasa,” said Jacer Garab Monteza.

“Naamoy ko nga din po ‘yan. Sobrang lansa po talaga nakakaduwal ang amoy,” said Elaiza Valdez.

Vioan Manahan gave these tips on how to make do with the canned goods: “Ganyan din po dito sa Semirara. Nakain din naman. Ginawa ko, sinala ko at nilagyan ng itlog at sibuyas bago pinirito.”

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has directed all Regional Field Offices to recall the canned tuna. He has also ordered the Central Office to speak to the supplier of Ocean’s Best Tuna for the replacement of the whole lot based on the numerous complaints in the regions.

“It is unfortunate that some of our beneficiaries received substandard canned tuna. We take these complaints seriously and are taking action to address the issue,” Gatchalian said.

“We have directed concerned officials to study all options, including sanctions on the supplier, withholding of payment, and even blacklisting from the list of accredited suppliers,” he said.

Oriental Mindoro has been hit by an oil spill crisis that has affected the livelihood of more than 192,000 people from 249 barangays in the regions of Mimaropa, Calabarzon and Western Visayas. The DSWD has been providing food packs to families impacted by the disaster.

While the DSWD did not specify which regions these food packs with the allegedly expired tuna came from, online photos showed a resident from Oriental Mindoro displaying the purported inedible tuna.

The DSWD is urging all recipients of the food packs to return the canned tuna to their respective regional offices for proper disposal and replacement.