EDITORIAL - From the office of

More than two million people nationwide have lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 crisis. These people need basic goods because, aside from not having money to buy them, many of these people also happen to be in places that are on full lockdown, with only local government personnel bringing them badly-needed items like rice, food, and water.

However, it’s not just people who lost their jobs that need aid. There are those who are technically still employed but cannot earn at the moment because they cannot go to their jobs, or are paid on a daily basis. So when you count those who lost their jobs and those who cannot go to work right now, plus factor in their families and dependents, you can imagine that the number of people needing relief goods can go up even higher.

The good news is that many groups, institutions, and third parties have stepped up to help the government give much-needed relief goods to those who need it. You may not always be able to tell, because the name on the bag containing the goods belongs to a politician, agency, or an office.

It’s a sad fact that in the Philippines, politicking never ends. Even in the time of disasters like this one, some politicians are so fond of “hijacking” these goods to make it seem like these were brought to those who need them by their own efforts, or that it came from their own pockets.

Many politicians think nothing of putting their names on bags of relief goods, even if the goods didn’t come from them but third parties or private donors. Many of these so-called public servants also make it a point that they are seen, filmed, or photographed distributing aid.

Don’t get us wrong, there is nothing wrong with giving relief goods. But when someone does so only to look good in front of cameras, or someone wants to fool people into thinking the aid came from their pocket, or through their personal efforts, it becomes obvious that that someone has a hidden agenda.