Shameless art of whitewashing poverty
As a shameless postcript to the highly-acclaimed papal visit, the DSWD has been reported to have admitted that during the Pope Francis pastoral and state visit, they transported street families from Manila and hid 600 street folks in a luxurious resort hotel somewhere in Batangas. The cost to the government for every room was allegedly six thousand pesos a night and they were brought there in ten luxurious tourist buses. The total expenses could run into millions for a weekend that achieved nothing but the hypocrisy of this government in hiding the painful social realities to the Holy Father. Shame, shame, shame.
If that amount was only spent in providing a little capital money for these families to start a micro enterprise or a small entrepreneurial venture, it could have achieved a long-term impact on the struggles of homeless families roaming the streets in Manila. No matter how the DSWD Secretary is trying to justify that irresponsible act of her subordinate officials and personnel, there is neither exempting circumstance nor any redeeming value to such an act of hypocrisy. It was hypocrite for a poor country to cover up the massive poverty of its people by impressing the state visitor with a grandiose welcome.
The radio and TV program of Kabayan Noli de Castro and Ted Failon conducted an inquiry, by way of investigative journalism. The truth came out since reporters actually interviewed both the resort manager as well as one of the family heads who was brought there in the guise of a camp to educate the poor on the conditional cash transfer program of the government. That begs the questions on the timing and the venue. These families have always been in the streets, why educate them only now? And why, of all places, they were placed in a resort complex far away.
This audacity of public officials insults the intelligence of the people. They squander public funds, without hesitation, nor remorse, and when the people ask questions, they give such a moronic explanation. Secretary Soliman used to be a street parliamentarian. She was and may still be the respected public official that we hold in high esteem. But her explanation on the air, when asked by Kabayan Noli, has added salt into the wounds of disappointments among the people who understand the issues.
One family head who was interviewed testified that they were made to sign a receipt related to cash transfer but all that he received was a few grocery items. Well, this is subject to further verification. But we have gathered many reports of that same pattern relative to the cash transfer program. One report involved one DSWD frontliner who allegedly compelled recipients to sell shampoos in exchange for the benefit. There are also reports that only the local politicians' followers are granted such benefits. These must be verified, and responsible public servants must be made to answer.
As for us, all we request is to treat the people with respect. If the public officials cannot be totally honest and transparent, in handling public funds, in spending the peoples' money, they should at least refrain from insulting their intelligence. Shame on them!
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