Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez aired his frustrations through an open letter to Pres. Rodrigo Duterte concerning the Hatid Tulong program led by the national government.
In a Facebook post, Gomez raised his concerns on how there was no social distancing among the people in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex who were gathered there for the government’s Hatid Tulong program.
Gomez posted several pictures showing the situation of the people at the sports complex. He is concerned that the President might not be fully aware of how dire the situation is given the COVID-19 pandemic. Although people are wearing masks, it does not eliminate them from acquiring the virus as they are not observing social distancing.
“Mr. President, [this] is the situation right now at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum for the Hatid Tulong program. Just in case no one is showing the real pictures,” Gomez said.
Many Filipinos were camped at the said coliseum in hopes of the government’s aid in giving them trips back to their provinces. The Hatid Tulong is a government program for locally-stranded individuals (LSIs).
Mayor Gomez claimed that those who were in charge of the program did a poor job in handling the situation. He said that they have no idea what they’re doing because they just let the people be stuck in the coliseum which is a violation of the physical distancing rule for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“Who is your person in charge of this program? I am sorry but in my opinion, that person doesn’t know what he is doing in organizing something as big as this,” he said.
“He cannot tell the people to be in an orderly manner. No social distancing for more than 2 days!” he added.
He also said that the government failed to organize the program properly and wondered how many of the people will be infected with the virus.
“How many of them will be infected with Covid as they head home to their provinces this week because of this arrangement!?
Whoever that person heading this program should be fired for insensitivity and no regard for public health!” Gomez said.
Conducting a program as large as this posts a great threat to the people because they will be surrounded by a storm of individuals who wish to go home as well. It is possible that an individual might catch the virus and if he were to go back to his province, he will be spreading it to the people there. It might just increase the number of infected people needing health care over time.
Gomez believes that those in charge of handling the Hatid Tulong program should be removed from their positions because they showed no care for public health.
Joseph Encabo, lead convenor of Hatid Tulong, gave an explanation for the viral photos showing thousands of people packed in the sports stadium as they waited for trips back to their provinces.
“Gusto ko lang ipaliwanag na noong mga nakaraang araw lahat ng mga taong iyon ay nasa kalsada, inulan sila ng dalawang gabi, babad sa init at kailangan na po naming magdesisyon upang mabigyan ng maayos na center ang mga kababayan natin mga LSI (locally stranded individual) lalong-lalo na ang mga senior citizen, ang mga buntis, ang mga bata,” Encabo said.
He said that the Hatid Tulong technical working group was not able to anticipate the number of people willing to wait in the streets for trips to the province. While they made room for some 7,500 people, there were many more “walk-ins,” leading to the crowding at the stadium.
“With the huge number of LSIs, it can’t be avoided that, no matter how large our venue – we used a football field and baseball field of Rizal Memorial Complex – they’re really determined to go home today or tomorrow,” said Encabo,” he said.
He sought for the understanding of the public and assured that they will do their best in handling the event properly.
“We hope the public understands that we are doing our best to follow the protocols and guidelines. They have masks; there is a sanitizing protocol,” Encabo said.
The COVID-19 cases in the Philippines are still increasing as new cases are being recorded daily according to the Department of Health (DOH). Due to the pandemic, lots of Filipino people are stranded and can’t go home just like what happened to the individuals in Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
It can be recalled that Mayor Gomez also expressed his frustrations over the “Balik Probinsya” program led by the national government.
Balik Probinsya program is a long-term program of the government intended for Metro Manila residents who want to return to their provinces “for good.”
Although President Duterte did not address the Hatid Tulong program issue specifically in his Fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), he unveiled the roadmap and guidelines on economic recovery amid the country’s battle against COVID-19.
He lauds the government agencies for competently responding to the crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The intervention that the government had put in place prevented as much as 1.3 to 3.5 million infections,” the President said.
Senator Bong Go was commended for his efforts in addressing the pandemic and endorsed the Balik Probinsya program.
The President also expressed his gratitude to those who supplied food, water, and basic utilities of households in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. He showed gratitude for the efforts of frontliners and local government officials as well. He prays LGU officials would set aside partisan politics and do what is good for all.