Relief distribution ‘guided’ by politics
On Nov. 15, 2013, I read a message on my FB wall saying that relief distribution in Caibiran, Biliran province is not fair—the relief goods are being given only to those who are on the list of the political party distributing the goods.
I felt embarrassed upon hearing the news. I wonder what political party could do such a thing in the face of hunger?
My heart goes out to those who were denied relief assistance just because they were not political allies or supporters. Where is our Filipino value of brotherly concern and compassion for people who need them most?
This is not a time for politics. This is a moment to be thankful to God that people in Biliran province surpassed the supertyphoon. The people distributing the relief goods in Caibiran should keep in mind that those they left out just because they were not on the political party’s list were affected by the typhoon and were as hungry just like them.
To them I say: The relief and other humanitarian assistance are not for you alone. They are meant for any Yolanda survivors. They are from generous donors coursed through government. Selective distribution is “politicking.” It worsens the hunger of those “missed out.” Not only does it make the deprived suffer more hunger. Worst of all, it sends them to death.
Though I’m here so many miles away from home, I can feel the difficulties our people are experiencing back there, especially in Biliran, my home province. People rely on farming and fishing for livelihood. But this is not the issue here. The issue is the unfair relief distribution in Biliran because of the hand of politics.
—NELSON P. BOREN,
Mount Pearl,
Newfoundland, Canada
