TACLOBAN CITY-If there is one thing that President Benigno Aquino taught to the Yolanda survivors it is for them to learn to trust on themselves instead on the government, said an alliance of typhoon victims in the region.
Six months after Eastern Visayas was devastated by the supertyphoon, the Aquino government should be “congratulated” for teaching the storm survivors not to believe in miracles but on self-reliance, Sister Edita Eslopor, chairperson of the People Surge, said in a press statement.
“Since Typhoon Yolanda, the Aquino government tried to pass off hocus-pocus as miraculous recovery to convince the people, with the wonder of wonders being that it is on top of the situation,” Eslopor added.
“(Over) five months after the storm, survivors have been condemned to poverty and hunger,” she said.
The People Surge leader chided several Cabinet members of Aquino for their alleged lackluster performances in addressing the needs of the victims.
Eslopor said that, for one, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas wants to be President, thus politicizing the crucial period of post-Yolanda rescue and relief.
While Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman allegedly shows unusual talent for turning food and other relief goods into garbage, she added, referring to earlier reports that there were food aids that were dumped.
Energy Sec. Jericho Petilla, Eslopor said, has repeatedly failed his promise to significantly restore electricity, reneging even his pledge to resign if he could not do so, and furthermore depriving coastal communities of the vital utility because of the “no-build zone” policy.” (RONALD O.REYES)
