Political bias affecting SAP aid

By Leonardo Micua

 

BEFORE our deadline, we spotted on TV Patrol on Thursday night a poor family  in Quezon City, the wife and husband blind on both eyes, and could only rely on their small children run errands for them in this period of lockdown, who profusely thanked ABS-CBN and Senator Manny Pacquiao for coming to their rescue in this stage of the lockdown.

Otherwise, the family could not imagine how they could still manage to last till the remaining days of the quarantine since they cannot fend for themselves.

ABS-CBN and Senator Pacquiao got wind of their plight and delivered to their small shanty more than a jeep-load of goodies (call them relief goods) that could hopefully tide them over for weeks past the Enhanced Community Quarantine. Other good samaritans followed suit and chipped in to provide their other needs.

We heard many stories like this where those who have plenty in life are now sharing their fortunes to their less fortunate brothers and sisters who have absolutely nothing to fend for themselves.

At home, it is good to hear that businessmen and fraternal and service organizations are donating goods as well as cash for our less fortunate citizens through city hall.

But I wonder if the handicapped persons, the blind and disabled (and destitute if you can call them) which are plenty around the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Bonuan, were and are still being made to wait for long the relief goods reserved for them because they continue to beg for alms from house to house in their neighborhood for their daily meals.

Methinks, these people deserve more than relief goods but also the cash benefits under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP). There is something wrong in this government if those mandated to implement the SAP bypass these helpless souls and instead distribute the cash aid to the undeserving, political allies of the one in power.

I was informed Malacanang’s 8888 has been already swamped with reports of political biases by local officials tasked to distribute the SAP assistance.

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With only four patients confined in Pangasinan for COVID-19 as of April 24, from 36 confirmed cases registered since April 13, will the province be eventually declared coronavirus-free soon? I guess it will be because for more than a week now, no new cases have been reported or have surfaced. 

I heard the four are in stable condition and will be discharged from the hospitals very soon like the other 23 that have recovered and eventually gone home. 

If you note, there is even a higher rate of recovery of COVID-19 patients in Pangasinan than those in Metro Manila and elsewhere. It is about time, the health professionals in the province share the better treatment protocols that they had devised to other areas so that we can help stamp out COVID-19 all over the land.  Right, Dr. Anna?

But wait, we cannot achieve the COVID-19-free status unless we internalize some self-discipline first. We heard there were close to 5,000 people who were arrested and booked by the police for various violations of the ECQ, among them not wearing masks outside of residences, going out of houses sans any quarantine passes, not observing social distancing, drinking liquor, gambling, etc.  Right, Colonel Red? 

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