Senate President Franklin Drilon PRIB FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Franklin Drilon came to the defense of the Aquino administration, branding as “unfair” criticisms that it has been lackadaisical in responding to the needs of the people in areas leveled by monster typhoon “Yolanda.”
“I think that is an unfair criticism. The government is doing everything it can,” Drilon said in a radio interview Thursday.
“Gaya po ng sinabi ko, papel po ng media na mag criticize pero siguro at this time tayo na pong mga Filipino magkaisa na para tulungan ang ating pamahalaan…Yan po ang ating kailangan, ng sambayanan ngayon, pagkakaisa,” he said.
(Like what I said, it’s the role of the media to criticize but may be at this time, Filipinos should unite to help the government. That’s what we, our countrymen, need now).
Drilon issued the statements when sought to react to criticisms not only by fellow Filipinos but also by the international media that the government has been slow in its aid response to starving “Yolanda” survivors.
He pointed out that even the rich country like America was not able to cope immediately with a disaster when it was struck by hurricane “Katrina.”
“Mayaman ang bansang yun. Madami ding nagreklamo dun. Ilang araw na nakatiwangwang ang mga biktima dun. (But with their) resources, they were not able to cope immediately with the problem,” said the Senate leader.
“Given our limited resources and the magnitude ng sakuna na mas malaki pa kaysa Katrina, hindi mo po maaagapan ang lahat ng problema (of the tragedy which is bigger than Katrina, you can’t immediately attend to all problems),” he added.
So instead of criticizing, Drilon called on everyone to just help the government and propose solutions how to immediately provide help to “Yolanda” victims.
“Tama na siguro ang bangayan muna…saka na natin tingnan kung saan tayo nagkulang and institute measures later in order na maging efficient ang relief operations pag nangyari ulit ang mga sakuna,” he said.
“So magkaisa na po tayo. Let’s stop criticizing all of these things . Instead of criticizing na mabagal, e siguro mag suggest na lang kung paano mapabilis ang relief operations dahil ito po ay isang pagkakataon na magkaisa ang buong bansa…”
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