IN solidarity with the ongoing barricade staged by Pablo victims in Region XI, youth groups led by Kabataan Partylist marched to the main office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Quezon City.
Starting yesterday, over 5,000 Pablo survivors gathered in Region XI DSWD office and staged another barricade to demand genuine relief and rehabilitation.
The 6.2 million victims have been receiving little or nothing from the government ever since the massive typhoon hit last December shattering their homes and livelihood. The protest asserted the culpability of the DSWD and its secretary Dinky Soliman in both the ineffectiveness and corruption at the cost of the continued plight of typhoon victims.
Protesters, both in Mindanao and Manila, also singled out the collaboration of the government with destructive logging and mining companies that intensified the damage caused by Pablo.
“The government is turning a blind eye even when faced with one of the most destructive catastrophes in history. Officials like Dinky Soliman have proven their blatant motivations in utilizing the disaster for their own gain with overpriced bunkhouses, ghost laborers and other avenues for corruption” said Kabataan Partylist President Terry Ridon.
Corruption coupled with the militarization of the affected areas has led to impeded services and relief to many of the typhoon victims. The P18 billion relief fund has turned into a makeshift pork barrel abused by government officials as exposed by June Sanchez, formerly of the DSWD project staff.
“Lack of accountability from the government has turned the relief and rehabilitation effort into a money-making scheme for officials and increased military presence in the area has protected this. No amount of counter-insurgency programs will help these people, even the previous demand to release the 10, 000 sacks of rice hasn’t been given” added Ridon.
Ridon stressed that “this is a national issue and reflects how the government responds to harsh calamities. In the past President Aquino boasted about the increase for the calamity fund, yet now his administration directly prevents people from receiving it. This has aggravated the situation, and the people have a right to be angry.”
He concluded by saying “The youth have a particular stake in this issue, as even the social cost and trauma this calamity has dealt them is not getting any better amidst fraud and a militaristic approach to recovery. We will continue to support efforts of our kababayans in rebuilding their lives as well as fighting for genuine relief and rehabilitation.”