With the current crisis the entire country is facing, all of us are experiencing something from the Philippine government. Although we are not requiring that the government gives us everything they have – it’s still going to be big assistance if they provided some commodities.
Just recently, Jonathan Malaya, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary said that subdivision resident’s don’t need help from the government. Moreover, he said that these people should not expect the government to help them. How ridiculous is that?
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It’s So Because They Have Well-Off Lives
Malaya pointed out that most, if not all subdivision residents are well-off in life. In fact, he said that the fact that people are living in subdivisions, they would not need help from the government anymore.
Yung mga nasa subdivision, nakatira naman tayo sa subdivision, bakit pa tayo hihingi sa gobyerno? Let me just emphasize, yung ibang maganda naman ang buhay, ‘wag na po tayong maghintay ng tulong sa gobyerno kasi maganda naman buhay niyo.”
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In Translation: People who live in subdivisions, you are living in a subdivision, why ask assistance and help from the government? Let me just emphasize, there are people who live well; let’s not wait for the government’s grace of helping because you already are well-off!
Here’s DZMM Teleradyo’s tweet about the statement that Mr. Malaya made about subdivision residents not needing help from the Philippine government. This tweet was back on the 25th of March.
DILG: Yung ibang maganda naman ang buhay, 'wag na po tayong maghintay ng tulong sa gobyerno kasi maganda naman buhay niyo. #COVID19 #LuzonLockdown
— DZMM TeleRadyo (@DZMMTeleRadyo) March 25, 2020
How people reacted to Malaya’s statement
People, of course, reacted violently. A lot of people, especially those living in subdivisions reacted saying that they do not deserve that statement. Why? Because firstly, they pay taxes, too. They’re not just people who are “well-off,” they pay taxes. Furthermore, a lot of them explained that even if they’re well-off, they shouldn’t be hearing those kinds of words.
And of course, not everyone who resides in subdivisions are well-off. The fact that even some of the members of the Cabinet, as well as the Senators are being served. Then why shouldn’t subdivision residents need help from the government?
They expressed their frustrations by sending in replies to the tweets of the DILG. Some, even, voiced over other sources of social medial.
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To add to his explanation, Malaya said that the government is prioritizing people who find it difficult to live in this kind of situation. He said that they’re lining up people who are not able to work and earn money everyday.
Ang inuuna po ng gobyerno ‘yung mga isang kayod, isang tuka… ‘yung mga arawan na hindi makapag-trabaho, ‘yung mga nasa TODA, ‘yung mga nagtratrabaho sa palengke na hindi makapasok, ‘yun po ang inuuna namin.”
In Translation: The Philippine government is prioritizing people who find it difficult to live in times like this; those people who are not capable of working everyday to put food on the table. People who are part of the TODA or the tricycle operators and drivers association (TODA); workers who employed in markets who aren’t capable of going out – those are the people we prioritize.
There’s nothing wrong with that, however, it’s true that all workers in the Philippines, whether or not they live in a subdivision, pays taxes. Therefore, it’s just right for them to be protected as well.
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Malaya’s statement that subdivision resident’s don’t need help from the government, is in any way incorrect. People in subdivisions are in lockdown and it’s because of the decision of the government, shouldn’t they be the ones proactive enough to assist and to help these people?
Lockdown in the Philippines
Several municipalities, cities, and provinces in the island of Luzon declared a lockdown for the further containment and the controlling of the Coronavirus. That being said, families are not able to go out because it’s not allowed.
How would people get medicine and food to eat? How would they be able to live without thinking of how they’ll eat for that specific day? Yes, the government is not obliged to provide relief goods to the people but in order to protect them, it’s better if it’s going to be done.
What do you think about the statement of the DILG’s Undersecretary that subdivision residents don’t need help from the government? Did this also spark your interest in the topic? Are you intrigued by what’s going on in the mind of our government officials?
Source: Scout Mag PH