The Making of Thousands of Additional Beggars In the Philippines?

By Pacifico M. Talens*

When the Philippines, that beautiful and scenic place of many islands, was overrun by super typhoon Yolanda, citizens of the world were captivated by images of heartbreaking devastations. Thriving communities gone. Almost all housing structures and trees and roads destroyed, uprooted, and washed away by almost biblical forces of rain, wind, and rising sea.

In the aftermath of the epic storm, it became apparent multitude of government apparatus for relief and humanitarian undertakings were ill-equipped, powerless, and ignorant on means and ways to respond. Days after the cataclysm, corpses remained lying in the streets, victims hungry, without shelters and between life-and-death gasping for breathes of life. Dismal realities in complicated humanitarian operations revealed the ugly faces of incompetent leadership by local and provincial governments—but more so by the national government. President Aquino’s mettle of leadership has been tested in a draconian way by this event, when the level of devastations became almost surreal, almost mimicking the unimagible catastrophies in Japan that resulted from tsunamis created by very powerful undersea earthquakes.

As a former believer and supporter, until recently, of President Aquino, I would argue that history will judge this as one glaring example of his failed demonstrable inspirational leadership. He was as if the Commander in Chief of a nation who remained absent-without-leave (AWOL) in such a momentous time in history to witness at hand, and to guide and inspire his troops and people in a similarly tragic, bloody war. He eventually showed up but for a short time indeed only to manifest ugly political exercises of handing out relief rations to the victims. He remained awol still, up to now, to ease the pain, to mingle in sympathy in those other unfortunate lands. To date, weeks after the storm, many still are yet to realize the experience of receiving humanitarian aids.

In the economic and political contexts, the Philippines, even in best of times, is a country that is very difficult to govern. Corruption seems ingrained in the fabric of society and it runs rampant and unabated in the institutions of government; and it is this corruption that is the dominant culprit for a weakened national apparatus for disaster preparedness. The national coffers kept being plundered by the very people and legislators in the pedestals of government. Stolen funds, or lack thereof, brought about deficient and inefficient military air capabilities that had it been the otherwise could have been conducive to reliably long sustained humanitarian rescue and relief operations to hard-to-reach far flung stricken areas. Rapid rescues could have been possible; additional lost of precious lives could have been mitigated.

The horrendous devastations by the super typhoon, considered the most powerful typhoon in the recorded history of the world, will now be in the pages of history. The massive losses to lives and property can not be undone. But may further narratives to this saga unfold in ways it brings about deep soul-searching in so many people—that those, who plunder the state and only think of their self-interest, to make amends and now to truly serve their people. And for President Aquino, in serving the remaining years of his presidency as the political leader of a devastated nation, to morph and to become that inspirational leader the people long for.

In light of complicated and massive humanitarian undertakings currently ongoing to feed and assist thousands of victims, it is imperative the national government must exercise utmost vigilance to prevent corruption to taint the administration of humanitarian aids accorded by so many.

My words of advise to the Philippine government is to start wising up and start finding ways to distribute these cash moneys to the intended victims. To begin with, instead of using these donated cash to purchase so much rice, sardines, biscuits, noodles to make food packs (which require so many volunteers and much time to prepare), they should begin distributing these cash to each of all the families affected by the storm. Twenty-five thousands (25,000) pesos (about 1,000dollars) along with initial aids in material/food reliefs, be given to each family unit. Additional 10,000 pesos (about 400 dols) be given to family for each family member killed during the storm. This massive cash donations from the local communities and around the world should more than cover this project of giving out cash moneys to the victims. Upon these cash donations, the victims can start rebuilding their lives and their houses, instead of relying in fragile, uninhabitable tents and shelters.

It is in the realm of illogical thinking for the government to institute this so-called food-for-work programs in the ravaged areas. It is even inhuman and without basis to set deadlines in giving out humanitarian aids to the victims. The affected people are not required to work to receive what was accorded to them by noble people and governments. The Aquino administration must not lose sight that all these cash and relief aids have been given to the victims pro bono.

Now in the protocols and means of distributing these cash moneys to the family units. Of course, politicians must not be allowed controls in this complicated undertakings. Someone needs not be a rocket scientist to know why. Proven good citizens of the world are thus encouraged to participate in this no ordinary endeavor. Cardinal Tagle, a proven leader of the Church, in partnership with other religious leaders and some members of the court such as judges in the Visayas, should lead in the noble tasking of judiciously distributing cash moneys (by issuing checks) to all affected family units. I believe this protocol is the t way to make life anew and to bring back joy and hope to so many people whose lives have been altered and ruined. And failure by the government to give out these enormous donations of cash to the victims will only guarantee the making of thousands of additional beggars in the supposed to be beautiful lands of the Philippines.

*Pacifico (Pat) M. Talens—is a retired United States Navy Senior Chief who served as Personnel Officer and Admin Officer on board U.S. Navy war ships and on shore installations.