Palace ready to open CCT books amid 'sojourn' for homeless

MANILA - Malacanang is ready to open its books referring to the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program amid the controversial stay of street kids and their families in a Batangas resort, away from the line of sight of Pope Francis.

In a radio interview, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said: “Lagi pong bukas ang pamahalaan sa pagbibigay ng impormasyon na hinihiling at lagi po kaming bukas sa kooperasyon dahil ‘yan naman po ang umiiral sa pagitan ng ehekutibo at iba pang sangay ng pamahalaan.”

Some lawmakers have asked for a special inquiry into the CCT program after news came out that street children and their families were whisked away from their temporary shanties in Manila to live in Chateau Royale – with rates ranging from $90 to $500 – for a couple of days, or during the visit of Pope Francis.

In a report, Time.com quoted Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman as saying that the resort sojourn was done so that the families will “not be vulnerable to the influx of people coming to witness the Pope.”

The report went on to say: “Pressed to clarify, she expressed fears that the destitute ‘could be seen as not having a positive influence in the crowd’ and could be ‘used by people who do not have good intentions.’”

The move was heavily criticized, however.

Former CBCP President Oscar Cruz had said: “The pope came here for the poor, needy, that’s why the theme of his visit was ‘Mercy and Compassion’. All of a sudden they (DSWD) would like to hide the poor people and bring them somewhere?”

Militant lawmaker Terry Ridon, for his part, said: “The pope would have wanted to see the Philippines, warts and all. Let us not pretend that we are a first-world country.”

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Gov't strives to establish normalcy in typhoon-hit areas

TACLOBAN CITY - Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman defended Thursday the slow arrival of relief goods to typhoon-ravaged areas in the Visayas.

Speaking to ABS-CBN News, Soliman said the first three days after the onslaught of "Yolanda" were the most difficult because the roads were still blocked and the transport of goods was difficult.

She said more trucks have been provided to bring relief goods to typhoon-hit areas and remove dead bodies from areas such as Tacloban City.

The social welfare chief said that as of Wednesday, the government has distributed 66,541 food packs in Tacloban which is more than the 45,000 families in the city.

"Palagay ko yung mga nakakausap ko yung mga interviewers lalo na dito sa Tacloban yung kanila pong pakiramdam na walapang natanggap, maaaring nakatanggap at hindi sapat kasi ang nangyari sa kanila ay matinding trauma at hindi po sapat hanggat hindi magkaroon ng kaunting normalcy ang buhay nila. Ito ang sinisikap naming magawa sa paglilinis at pagsasaayos ng lugar," she told ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda.

Soliman said that during the first three days, distribution of relief goods in Tacloban was done at the plaza and at the airport.

She said they shifted operations to bring the goods by barangay so that people will not have walk to the distribution centers. She said the government has been able to cover 60 out of 138 barangays affected by the typhoon.

"Yung palagay ko na hindi namin napuntahan na barangay ay yung maliliit," she said.

She said the government has put up distribution hubs in Guiuan, Eastern Samar and Ormoc.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Dinky pleads for understanding of looters

MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman on Tuesday said the people should not be so quick to judge survivors of typhoon "Yolanda" who have resorted to looting in order to survive.

"Ngayon lang naman tayo nagka-disaster na ganito ang naging responde ng mga tao. At para sa akin, unawain natin sila. Hindi nila inakala na ganito ang mangyayari sa kanila," Soliman told dzMM.

She added that sheer magnitude of the devastation brought by the typhoon has forced the hungry and tired survivors to resort to lawlessness.

"[Naiisip siguro nila] 'Bakit nangyari sa akin ito? Galit ako sa lahat, ang akin lang magagawa ay gumawa ng mga pagkilos na ito,'" she said.

Soliman said the most important thing now is that help is coming to the severely battered city of Tacloban in Leyte, and Guiuan in Eastern Samar.

"Ngayon ang pinakamahalagang mangyari, tuloy-tuloy ang bigay ng pagkain, dahil sa aking pagtingin, sa galit, sa frustration, sa sama ng loob, ang mga tao, masyadong heightened ang pangangailangan na ma-assure na sila ay hindi mauubusan," Soliman said, reacting to reports that some survivors were blocking vehicles carrying relief goods.

State of national calamity, curfew

President Benigno Aquino on Monday night declared a state of national calamity following the devastation caused by the typhoon.

The declaration will allow the national government to fast-track delivery of aid and basic services, particularly in typhoon-hit areas in the Visayas.

Around P18.7 billion in government funds can be used to help victims and rebuild communities, Aquino said. Some P1.1 billion in Quick Response Funds were also allotted for the DSWD and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Over 20 countries, as well as foreign aid organizations and the private sector, are helping in the relief efforts.

To address the crime incidents plaguing badly-hit Tacloban, the Philippine government said Tuesday it had deployed armored vehicles, set up checkpoints and imposed a curfew to help end looting in the city.

Tacloban -- on the central island of Leyte -- bore the brunt of Friday's category-five storm with at least 10,000 people feared to have died there, according to the United Nations.

The devastated provincial capital -- a city of 220,000 residents -- has also seen some of the worst pillaging. Famished survivors desperate for food and medical supplies have ransacked aid convoys, hampering relief efforts.

Survivors have reported gangs stealing consumer goods including televisions and washing machines from small businesses.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said four Simba armored personnel carriers had been deployed to contain looting and help restore law and order, a day after hundreds of Philippine soldiers and police were sent to the city.

"We are circulating them (the Simbas) in the city to show the people, especially those with bad intentions, that the authorities have returned," Roxas told DZMM radio.

Checkpoints have been set up to stop people from mobbing relief trucks, he said.

Many resorted to looting with a charity saying that in one case, a man with a machete tried to rob aid workers who were receiving a delivery of medicine.

"The presence of policemen, military and government forces will definitely improve things (but) it will not be overnight," Roxas said, confirming reports that the Tacloban city government had imposed a curfew on residents of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

"It is a tool that we are using to minimize the looting and break-ins. We know some people cannot return home (during the curfew) because their homes were washed away but it is more effective against roving gangs who are looking for targets of opportunity," he said.

It is not clear where newly homeless residents are meant to go during this period.

Roxas added that the public works department had cleared at least one lane of a highway entering the city, which would speed up entry of supplies. It is hoped that incidences of looting will decrease as food relief flows to isolated areas.

Roxas said the government's three main priorities were to restore peace and order, bring in relief goods and start collecting corpses.

"Now that we have achieved number one and two, the priority is the recovery of the cadavers," he said. – with Agence France-Presse

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com