THERE is no end to calamities. When we stop counting, another one would strike. Typhoon Ompong on Sept. 15, 2018 brought death and destruction in Northern Luzon, taking the lives of at least 95 people (80 died in a mine in Itogon, Benguet), wounding 69 with 54 missing. On Sept. 20, 2018, a landslide occurred in Sitio Sindulan, Barangay Tina-an, City of Naga, Cebu, Philippines, killing 77 people with eight missing.
As rescue teams searched for bodies both in Itogon and Naga, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck on Sept. 28 triggered a tsunami bringing havoc and damage to Sulawesi Island, Indonesia and claiming the lives of at least 1,400 people.
In the worst of times, people become more humane, more generous, and even more courageous. Rescue workers brave the danger by risking their lives to save others. Volunteers from humanitarian and charitable organizations tirelessly work wto distribute not only provisions to the victims but also provide a shoulder to cry on. Generous donors contribute goods and money with the hope of alleviating the anxiety of those who are suffering.
But in the midst of people of good deeds lurk the ugly heads of greed, red tape and inefficiency. Thieves secure for themselves the items meant for wwof donating such a tedious task it results in the condemnation and the burning of goods. There are public servants who do not have the genuine passion to serve but merely do rounds for publicity.
A shameless example was the burning of four containers worth of relief goods meant for the survivors of typhoon Yolanda, which struck in 2013 yet. The donations coming from Belgium, Norway and the United Kingdom were declared abandoned and condemned due to the failure of the donors to pay importation tax.
The people at the Bureau of Customs claimed that their hands were tied by the law. They mentioned amendments made to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act that gave priority to donations for calamity victims, yet no implementing rules and regulations have been issued. No one wants to get blamed for such waste of resources meant for the better good.
At most times, donors mistrust the government and its agencies, so that they prefer to channel their donations to institutions such as the Red Cross or organizations such as the Rotary. In the aftermath of typhoon Ruping, if my recollection is right, USAID tapped the Aboitiz Group Foundation to handle the funds for relief operations and that proved to be an effective model.
Bisaya-speaking Filipinos in New Zealand are again raising funds through the campaign Tabang Ta Sa Naga, with the aim of sending help to the victims of the tragedy. We will be coursing whatever amount raised to the Minglanilla Volunteers Foundation banking on their promise that the assistance will reach those who need help the most.