Gov’t not ‘superman’ – Yolanda rehab czar

Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson, updates members of Malacanang Press Corps on the rehabilitation efforts in the Yolanda stricken provinces in the Visayas during a press briefing held at Malacañang. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA – Rehabilitation czar, Panfilo Lacson on Saturday said that the government is neither “omnipotent” nor “superman” to immediately solve all the problems brought by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” last year.

The statement was made despite the criticisms on the government’s alleged snail-paced rehabilitation efforts. Some were even claiming that they have not yet received any help from the government.

“Hindi totoo yun. Ang Tacloban City sila yung nakatanggap ng isa kung hindi man yung pinakamalaki na financial assistance sa pagpapagawa ng kanilang city hall, public market…” he said in an interview.

(That’s not true. Tacloban City is among those who received one of biggest financial assistance in the rehabilitation of their city hall and public market.

“Katunayan ang natanggap na ng Tacloban so far maski wala pa yung approved na plano, P251 million. Yung ibang lugar like yung Guiuan, mga P101 million. Yung ibang lugar ganun din mas mababa pa…”  said Lacson.

(In fact, They have received P251 million even without the approved plan. Other places like Guiuan (received) some P101 million, while other received the same or even less.)

Lacson is left wondering why protests and complaints have been raised against the government’s rehabilitation efforts, despite this fact.

“Tanunging natin ang mga sarili natin, bakit parating may reklamo sa Tacloban? Bakit sa ibang lugar wala naman tayong nakitang nagreklamo…” Lacson  said, adding that in some areas, the  mayors either belong  to the  opposition or  not part of the  Aquino administration.

(Why don’t we ask ourselves why there are always complaints coming from Tacloban? Why don’t we have any complaints in other places?)

Lacson is also calling on all the officials involved in the rehabilitation program of the government to help each other rather than continue politicking.

“Magtulungan na lang sa halip na isipin yung pulitika. Unahin na muna natin ang kapakanan ng mga survivors… Humingi ka ng tulong, isipin mo ang kapakanan ng kababayan mo sa halip na sipin mo pa yung kalaban sa pulitika na baka hindi ka tulungan. We are there to help…”  Lacson said.

(Let’s help (each other) instead of thinking of politics. Let the well-being of the survivors be considered first. When asking for help, think of the well-being of your countrymen instead of thinking about your political rivals. We are there to help.)