End the hunger games

The hungry protesters came in as ferocious monsters, sneaked into the stockpile of food and snatched all that they could find. Unfortunately, they were cornered by policemen before they could walk off with their loots (which were said to be intended for the latest Typhoon Crising victims). These alleged typhoon Pablo victims who stormed the office of DSWD in Davao were ready to fight for what they believed were theirs. The rallyists demanded from the government thousands of sacks of rice which they claimed such staple had ran out days after Pablo’s fury got them. They compelled DSWD to give the “donations” to them.

Bystanders rather asked the most mediocre question: Ngano ana man na sila bugas lang gani na? Unsa na lang kaha kung apil sud-an? City Police Director Ronald dela Rosa blew his top when one of his men was badly hit by an unknown assailant. But before that, the commotion was like a colony of termites disrupted by an alien force. Dela Rosa megaphoned the angry mob, squeaked to his lungs why would protesters resort to violence? “Wala na mo’y rason!?”, he yelled. Perhaps, under the circumstances the confused crowd may have ran out after all any reason to continue with their fight when their woes only landed on deaf ears. Well, “Razon” is DSWD’s woman of the hour.

But it would not be a tale-tell of DSWD Director Priscilla N. Razon’s shining moment when for some it dulled the office under her. When she facilitated to impose certain conditions before the victims could get their claims, the hinterland folks gave her a total snub. The rally joiners however did not sync with their purpose of coming since some of them were lured only in the pretence that they will go hitchhiking Davao. Some ended up in frustration for having separated from their families for days with their actions in futility. There was the riotous consequence afterwards that poked officials it’s time to bring them back to where they come from.

After everybody got back to their senses so we say, put a stop to it and end the hunger bluffs like forecasting its soonest gameover. Are the conditions imposed by DSWD non-achievable? On the other side, should DSWD impose certain conditions when its duty and responsibility is to look after the welfare of the distressed barrio folks with the bleakness of their future re-defined after Pablo’s wrath? Is it giving them too much burden already? For the bystanders out there: Is our government transparent about all the donations intended for Pablo victims?

It is not about someone squealing before DSWD about someone did something wrong. It is about poor people becoming handicapped by reason of poverty. There exists animosity between our government and marginalized folks. It does not come however from the quarters of our police authorities but surprisingly from our social workers. This incident is a reminder that the RIGHT TO WELFARE IS A BASIC RIGHT. This is a strong blow to one’s right, a crushing sorrow especially that what really added insult to injury to the members of the indigenous cultural minorities in that rally was when they were beaten down because they demanded food from the government.

We hope our DSWD in partnership with LGUs hit by Typhoon Pablo decry baseless assumptions and be transparent about all dole-outs received and for folks to replace doubts with trust to their only government. It is time for DSWD, too to re-assess on how to address the needs of the extremely disadvantaged brought about by natural disasters or calamities. Like what former president Ramon Magsaysay, though short-lived in the presidency, used to say such golden rule on social justice: “Those who have less in life should have more in law”. It gives us pain seeing our fellows with hand-to-mouth survival in the mountains beaten down below after showing their lusts for expression. This, I think, is a shared concern. As the song goes: Walang sino man ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang. Walang sino man ang namamatay para sa sarili lamang. Tayong lahat ay may pananagutan sa isa’t-isa.Tayong lahat ay tinipon ng Diyos, para makapiling nya.