Aid distribution
CONCERNED government authorities would do well to speed up the distribution of assistance to victims of natural disasters in various parts of the Philippines.
This after President Marcos himself lamented reports that in some areas, disaster victims need to secure “stubs” or “tickets” first before they are given relief goods.
Marcos made the statement last Tuesday in a speech at the Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte, one of the provinces hit hard by “Tropical Storm Paeng.”
Accompanied by Maguindanao government officials, President Marcos conducted an aerial inspection of the areas devastated by landslides and flash floods in Mindanao.
He thumbed down this “condition” (securing stubs) set by some local government units, explaining that “it’s important to fast-track the distribution of aid” to victims.
“Ano kung ma-doble? Bigay niyo na lahat… Yayaman ba ang tao na maka-doble ng food pack? Hindi yayaman. There’s no such thing as sobrang relief goods,” the President added.
We share the view of President Marcos that there’s that urgent need to improve the current SOP (standard operating procedure) in the distribution of aid to the needy.
There are even complaints that unscrupulous local government officials, notably barangay authorities, favor their relatives, friends and partymates in the distribution of relief goods.
“Mabuti na lang at nagsalita na si Pangulong Marcos. Siguro naman ay mahihiya na ang mga opisyal na ito. Wala munang politika dahil malayo pa ang 2025,” a jobless carpenter said.
Is that clear?
