Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative LRay Villafuerte explained why they decided to distribute cash instead of relief goods to their constituents affected by the flood brought by Typhoon Kristine.
In an interview with DWPM, Villafuerte argued that giving relief goods like food and rice to the affected families may be worthless as he assumed that those people don’t have gas stoves to cook their meals.
“Sabi raw bakit cash. Eh sige po baliktarin ko. Magbigay ka ng relief, bigas. Wala naman po silang panluto. Eh hehe. Ah ‘di ba po. Nasa gitna sila, walang gasul and all,” said Villafuerte.
Netizens couldn’t hide their disappointment in Villafuerte’s logic, saying that cash was useless as businesses were closed during calamities.
“Parang sumasabog common sense ko dito, so nasa gitna sila? so may pera na sila? so may mabibilhan ba sila sa gitna ng food? luto na or need pa nila lusong ulit punta sa kabilang baryo para bumili ng grocery or lutong pagkain? ah anyway.. I know madami narin tulong nakarating sa kanila. at sana nga karamihan ay naka hingi na ng tulong, maswerte parin kami at di binaha kahit dinaanan ng bagyo. tsaka lagi ako natingin sa update ng pag asa sa youtube lalo pag may LPA, then pag may parating ng bagyo..nabili nako ng mga noodles, coffee etc ganyan pang stock tsaka kandila,” netizen Val said.
“Unprepared…common sense binagyo need ng pagkain tubig basic needs po… what happen? Politics nga naman,” netizen Benj commented.
“Pano yan hindi nga sila makaalis, makakain ba nila ang pera doon sa gitna ng baha? Meron bang bukas na tindahan doon sa area nila para sila na magbili,” netizen Oliver remarked.