Coffee and fortified drinks have expired; the purpose of the boxes remains unclear.
Food items in relief boxes at Buena Park Covered Court in Barangay 80, Caloocan City, were reportedly left to spoil before they could reach residents, raising questions about the handling of goods intended for public distribution.
The incident, documented in photos shared on Facebook, drew criticism of the Caloocan City government amid concerns over the rising cost of rice and other basic goods.
A paper visible in each box lists Mega Sardines in Tomato Sauce, 155 grams, with an expiry date of September 2028, and Argentina Corned Beef, 150 grams, with an expiry date of November 2028. The same list shows Great Taste White Twin Pack dated August 2026 and Sealand Fortified 330 dated July 2026.
As of writing, the printed dates for the coffee and fortified drink have passed, while the sardines and corned beef are dated for 2028.
It remains unclear when the boxes were delivered, how long they had been stored at the covered court, or whether they were intended for distribution under a specific relief initiative.
The Caloocan City government has an Assistance to Indigent Individuals or Families – Food Assistance Rice Distribution Program, funded through the Local Government Support Fund. However, the photos do not establish whether the boxes were connected to that program or another project.
The circumstances surrounding the boxes, including the project they were intended for and the city government’s explanation, remain unclear.
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