An open letter wrote by a middle-class netizen has gone viral on social media amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) implemented by the government.
Jun Caparino, an employee of the Caloocan City Government who shared the said open letter are now receiving thousands of reactions on social media.
According to the unknown writer of the letter, the ‘poorest of the poor’ currently receiving the most help, while the middle-income families that contributed the most taxes were not eligible to receive the social amelioration package from the government.
The writer said that they don’t mind if they don’t receive the same help being sent by the government to the poor, however, he pleads to the low-income families to follow the ECQ rules.
“Ako ay kasama sa tinatawag na middle class. Nagtatrabaho, nagsisikap para mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang pamilya ko. Kabilang din ako sa apektado sa tigil trabaho na dulot ng covid na to. Kasama sa mga pag naubos na ang leave, wala naring sweldo. Kabilang sa mga nakakaltasan ng gobyerno, pero di kasama sa mga mabibigyan ng sustento. Hindi naman ako nagsesentemyento sa gobyerno na unahin muna kayong mga tinatawag na “poorest of the poor” sa panahong ito. Sabagay sabi nga atleast may kinakain pa naman ako,” the writer said.
“Nakakalungkot lang isipin na kayong pinipilit ng gobyernong tulungan, kayo pa ang hindi halos tumutulong sa gobyerno. Kayo pa yung mga nakikitang nasa kalsada na parang walang pandemic, na pag pinagsabihang manatili sa bahay kayo pa yung galit. Kayo yung mga nag iinuman sa labas pero walang maipambili ng bigas. Kayo yung mga nag abot abot na ang edad ng mga anak pero di man lang makabili ng gatas. Kayo yung mga umaasa sa tulong pero kahit kelan di naisip maghanap ng trabaho. Kayo yung mga tambay sa kanto na wala na ngang trabaho nakukuha pang magbisyo,”
In the said viral letter, it also said that the middle-class families that didn’t receive cash assistance seems more cooperative to the ECQ rules instead of the ‘poorest of the poor’ who were receiving the aid from the government.
“Napag isip isip kong kaming mga “middle class” parang kami pa ang mas masunurin. Kami pa yung mga sumusunod sa physical distancing. Kami yung mga inip na inip na sa loob ng bahay, kami yung mga hindi sanay na maging tambay. Kami yung mas umaasang sana matapos natong lahat. Kami yung kinakailangang bumalik sa trabaho para may makaltasan ng tax,”
The writer also hoped that after they read the letter, they should realize the sacrifices of the middle-income earners just to help the poorest of the poor in the middle of the crisis.
“Kung mababasa mo ito my “poorest of the poor” sana malaman mong umaasa ako na isang “middle class” na gamitin mo sa tama yung matatanggap mong ayuda. Yan kasi yung galing sa pawis kong halos sa trabaho na tumira. Sana tigilan mong kaawaan ang sarili mo, nakakaawa talaga kung hindi ka magbabanat ng buto. Sana maisip mong hindi ko kasalanan kung may maganda akong buhay, pinaghirapan ko yan at hindi yan nakuha sa isang pitik lamang. Sana sumunod ka sa gobyerno. Sana rin ikaw ay magbago. Habang may covid manatili ka sa iyong bahay at Huwag mo sanang hayaang maging mahirap ka habambuhay,”
Along with the open letter, the writer also posted some photos of people not following the social distancing and other ECQ rules.
The post already received 58,000 shares as of writing.
According to Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, middle-class families should be eligible to receive financial aid from the government as they’re paying “most taxes” and also affected by the ECQ.
“As governor, I am respectfully asking that you consider them to be part of the social amelioration program. They may not get as much as the poorest of the poor but please consider their welfare. They are often overlooked. They pay the most taxes. They keep our economy alive. They are mostly law-abiding citizens. They need a break.” Remulla told President Rodrigo Duterte.
Source: [1]