Senators hit eviction of LGU in cash aid delivery: Why deploy ‘platoon of clueless people’?

FILE PHOTO: Senator Risa Hontiveros (left) and Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto (right). INQUIRER FILES

MANILA,  Philippines — Two senators on Wednesday slammed the government’s move to “nationalize” the cash aid distribution, one saying it is still best done with the help of the local government units (LGUs).

For Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, it is  “irrational” to “nationalize an activity” which, he said, “is best done with local government participation.”

“’Yung big cities and provinces have division-size personnel. Tapos papalitan mo ng isang platoon of clueless people who don’t know the terrain,” he pointed out in a statement.

(Big cities and provinces have division-size personnel. And then you will replace them with a platoon of clueless people who don’t know the terrain.)

“The best is still a bayanihan (teamwork) between the local and national governments,” the senator then stressed.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier disclosed taking away from a city the “power to distribute” cash aid to its constituents supposedly for its failure to organize distribution.

While  Duterte did not identify the city, many believe he was referring to Manila City as the President also mocked an unnamed mayor over his old photos in a bikini circulating in social media.

But  Recto defended the  Manila City government, citing its many accomplishments in helping its poor residents while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

He cited for instance a 344-bed field hospital that the LGU was able to build in just seven weeks as well as the condominiums it built for the poor in the middle of the pandemic.

“Mayroon bang ganoong klaseng direct shelter production ang national government na pwedeng ipagmayabang?”  Recto asked.

“If Manila was able to pull off these big-ticket projects, then distributing aid to its own people is just another day in the office for them.”

Opposition Senator  Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, chided the Duterte administration  for politicizing the cash aid delivery and urged it to “stop undermining the autonomy of our LGUs.”

“Sa totoo lang, ang LGUs ang nagsasalba sa pandemic response ng bansang ito,” Hontiveros said in a separate statement.

(To be honest, the LGUs are the ones salvaging the pandemic response of this country.)

“Paulit-ulit na pinapatunayan ng ating mga governors, mayors, at barangay leaders na sa kabila ng bigat ng trabaho, kahit madalang ang baba ng ayuda, kahit limitado ang naibibigay sa kanilang mga bakuna, kahit mayroong nangmamaliit sa kanila, they still keep going,” she said.

(Our governors, mayors, and village leaders have repeatedly  proven that despite the workload, slow release of cash aid, limited  vaccines that they get, and even if there are people undermining them – they still keep going.)

Hontiveros likewise called on the administration to rationalize the distribution of vaccines, especially for LGUs that are ready to receive and administer shots among their constituents and in areas where cases are higher.

“Tutukan na sana ang pangangailangan ng mga priority areas at hindi ang pamumuro sa mga kritiko. Saklolo ang hinihingi ng ating mga LGUs, hindi chismis sa hatinggabi,” she said.

(I hope they focus on the needs of priority areas, and not target critics. LGUs are asking for help, not rumors at midnight.)

“Let us remember that our LGUs are the redeeming factor in this fight, especially against the new variants of COVID-19. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for the administration, which has been remiss in its duties to serve the people,” the senator continued.

KGA