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Farmers warn vs. pocketing of “Ondoy funds”

Two days after the devastating floods brought by storm Ondoy, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) urged the public to monitor government funds and donations for relief and rehabilitation projects.

The KMP feared that Malacanang will seize the opportunity to rake up funds intended for Ondoy victims. The group also alleged that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo used P800 million worth of emergency fund on her foreign trips, based on a Commission on Audit (COA) report.

In a press statement, KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos said, “We should all watch out for corruption by the Arroyo government as it has already been reported that the P800 million emergency fund was used for her trips abroad.”

According to Ramos, the KMP farmers had a bad experience with the government's rehabilitation projects after typhoon Frank submerged Iloilo City, killed 200 and left 162 missing last year. The floods also destroyed crops and infrastructure worth P500 million in Iloilo and P1 billion in the region.

“Because our members were badly hit by the typhoon, especially our regional chapter, we gambled in inquiring with the Dept. of Agriculture (DA) to avail of any emergency resources. DA officials said that the funds were already at their regional field units, but when our members inquired at their offices, they said the funds were still not released,” Ramos said. The KMP said none of their members or of other local organizations were able to avail of the said fund.

The DA reported that P95 million worth of agricultural crops in CALABARZON were destroyed where P85 million were rice. Ramos said the damage is bigger for the Filipino farmers, citing that the crops of KMP members in areas such as Tungkong Mangga, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan and Sitio Wawa, Bgy. San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal were totally destroyed.

KMP also hit the government's slow response and lack of preparedness for rescue operations. “We see that we are all unprepared for Ondoy. We are on regular monitoring on PAGASA reports prior, but they only warned of a Signal No. 1 typhoon and no qualitative report about the rainfall. Also, the government who has all the resources, where P800 million emergency fund were used by Arroyo on her trips, acted late,” laments Ramos.

“The ordinary people who acted courageously to help others are admirable and we sympathize with those who lost their loved ones. The loss of lives should be enough justification for the government and other entities to look further into the slow reaction for rescue operations. Also, we should be vigilant of the corruption that would rake funds that should be used for relief and rehabilitating areas hit by Ondoy,” said Ramos.





OFWs alerted on scammers misrepresenting migrant group

Migrante, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations, warned OFWs to beware of persons who may be misrepresenting or maliciously using the organization's name. The group also alerted distressed OFWs to contact legitimate Migrante officers for assistance.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, said “we are alerting our fellow OFWs, especially those in distress, to be careful in dealing with individuals misrepresenting Migrante, claiming that they are members and officers (when, in fact, they are not), giving wrong advices and are asking for money in exchange for the 'counseling' services they have rendered to distressed OFWs seeking assistance.”

Monterona said Migrante is the most active OFWs group that provides assistance to distressed, run away, and stranded OFWs in the Middle East. He added that they will not allow Migrante’s name to be used and tainted by “wicked individuals who dupe distressed OFWs.”

Monterona narrated that 'OFW Peter' (not his real name) was victimized by such a scammer. Peter, a family driver, said he was scolded and nearly slapped by his employers and was told he will be fired from his job. This incident prompted Peter to seek advice or help until he was referred to a person who introduced himself as a Migrante official in Al Khobar. The scammer, using Migrante’s name, advised Peter to run away from his employer, and promised that a temporary shelter will be provided in exchange for 1,500 Saudi riyals. Peter, doubting the person's intentions, contacted the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Al Khobar and discovered that no such person is affiliated with or has been tasked by Migrante to attend to cases.

According to Monterona, “Migrante chapters in the Middle East have designated officials to attend welfare cases and that all rights and welfare cases must come through them before officially endorsing it to the attention of the concerned RP posts/officials for its action”.

Monterona said distressed OFWs should only contact legitimate Migrante officers who have been issued an official Identification Card of their chapters in the Middle East. He can be contacted 24/7 via 056 497 8012.