TACLOBAN CITY- Over 1,000 people staged their protest rally on March 31, coinciding the end of food reliefs for typhoon victims.
The People Surge, composed of different groups, demanded for the “immediate resignation” of Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman whom they accused of incompetence and “end their agony.”
“Soliman and the Aquino government should be held liable on what happened to typhoon victims. We are not only thinking of today but also of the future generation. If they will not be stopped today, then their level of impunity will persist, and then we will be seeing more people suffering in the future calamities. We are going to ensure that this will not happen again in the future,” People Surge convenor Mark Simbajon told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
Asked if Soliman’s resignation will indeed solve the issue in the agency, Simbajon said that “we don’t believe it, but since she has not done something to solve the issue then, it’s better for her to resign.”
“It will worsen the issue if she continues in clinging to her post,” Simbajon added.
On April 8, the alliance will again stage a global protest in commemoration of the fifth month after typhoon Yolanda hit central Philippines killing over 8,000 people.
During the protest rally around the city, the alliance reiterated their demand for P40, 000 cash relief, lifting of no build zone and the extension of the distribution of relief goods.
DSWD Assistant Regional Director Virginia Idano, however, said that the giving of food aids to the victims would not be totally stopped as members of the so-called “vulnerable sectors” like senior citizens, pregnant mothers and persons suffering physical disabilities would continue to enjoy food assistance from the government. (RONALD O. REYES)
