This is a reaction to the news article titled ?No funds for more poor families, says DSWD.? (Inquirer, 9/4/09) The report stated that the Department of Social Welfare and Development could not yet accommodate the 300,000 additional families Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered included in a government poverty-reduction program for next year. The reason? The DSWD said it would need P5 billion more to accommodate the 300,000 households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps by 2010.

This is indeed very sad and ironic considering that the members of the Arroyo family have increased their fortunes more than a hundred percent since they came to power while more Filipinos are being mired in poverty. In Region 5 alone, one out of two Bicolanos are below the poverty line.

The Arroyos should just give their wealth, whether declared or undeclared, to the poor so that Filipinos would at least have some use for their family. But considering the First Family?s character, this is rather far-fetched and the best way for the poor to be satisfied is to see the crooks in Malacañang behind bars. This may not bring food on poor people?s tables, but this will definitely serve justice in their hearts.

?TESSA LOPEZ,
public information officer,
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bikol
(Bayan-Bikol), Barangay 17,
Legazpi City, Albay