Which worst? Haiyan Typhoon of Philippines corruption?

The sensationalism of the media for the Haiyan typhoon in the Philippines to rummage in the western rich pockets, soon will be forgotten. Rivers of money are coming in disaster areas, indeed, should arrive over there. According to numerous articles the risk that the Philippine government, (105th out 176 countries according to level of corruption as "Transparency International") is pocketing most of the aid is evident. The article on "International Business Times" headline "Typhoon Hayian: Filipinos Fear Corruption Will Hurt multimillion dollar International Aid Effort". Dominique Lemay, who runs children's foundation Virlanie outside Manila said that rogue Officials could divert aid for political gain. "Corruption is endemic in the Philippines," Lemay Told France 24. "It's Likely that neighborhood officers or deputies will take part of the funds to redistribute within their districts in order to whip up support blackberries in time for election season." (This is already happening according to tens of picture on Twitter)
Same fears also in the article in the " Observer" that has the title " Philippines typhoon : "We're worried some of the aid could be diverted"
For the "Washington Post" : "the transportation and communication infrastructure needed to coordinate and Provide relief was inadequate both two to Haiyan 's destruction , but Also to " skimming " and other forms of misappropriation that reduces construction quality".
This disaster should not detract from the conditions of this country that despite much fanfare about its annual economic growth of blackberries than 7 per cent , 28.6% of Filipinos still live under the official  poverty level . One in four Filipinos live on a dollar a day , 20% lack access to electricity , and nearly one- third of the population are unable to provide for basic food and shelter .
 As Pepe Escobar wrote in Asia Times Online: “One family, the Ayalas, controls 18% of total stock market-listed corporate assets. Moreover, the country’s top 10 most powerful families control 56.2% of such assets. Just over 50% of total GDP is controlled by the top 15 families.
 But the government of President Benigno Aquino has continued the agenda of austerity and neoliberalism by pushing for more deregulation, cutting social benefits to the poor and those in need, and pushing privatization. Aquino has proved to be unwilling and unable to change the country’s gross inequality. To strengthen the hand of the state, he is inviting more assistance and collaboration with the U.S. military, as well as spending $1.7-billion to buy more weapons and warships.
Blessed are those countries that do not want to chase the deleterious patterns of western development. Tools to create monkeys with branded clothing, colored hair, with some liposuction here and there, while the beauty of their traditions and customs is slowly disappearing in the exhaust pipe of the Western lies where a  wealth future looks always  so close to be grabbed.

From Philippines to the rest of the world "Think with your own brain, stay informed, love this planet, not more predator but more cooperation among peoples.....


 Extract from the Article " Typhoon Haiyan-Yolanda exposes Philippine's Government failure and Corruption" by Ruel F. Pepa

Some tranquil days before super storm happened, while it was yet rapidly moving over the Pacific Ocean towards the Philippine area of responsibility with maximum sustained winds of almost 200 miles per hour, extensive warnings were seriously issued and posted in all possible media conduits by respected international weather monitoring agencies. No loopholes, no missed details, no information lapse. Every fact, figure, statistical datum was communicated and communicated properly. The forewarning was loud and clear, and the alarm was globally heard. The anticipated colossal intensity of the approaching monster of a typhoon was going to be the highest in the known history of humanity on planet Earth, and it was about to hit the Philippines head on. The alerts and warnings were seemingly taken with constant seriousness by the apparently calm Benigno S. Aquino III, President of the Republic of the Philippines, who self assuredly announced over TV channels and radio stations the government’s absolute readiness to meet the impending threat and cope with whatever form of foreseeable peril, big and small, would come along. And the whole nation was generally appeased, except of course for the modicum of anxiety that always normally comes in the face of a looming hazard[...] Government has failed the people as it always has since time immemorial. The President of the Republic and his minions have let down the nation. The truth of the matter is, the government and the designated agencies and their personnel tasked to take the imminent responsibilities of the moment were unprepared, disconcerted, inept, substandard and indecisive. Five days after the catastrophic devastation, no relief, rescue and clearing operations had yet been fully and extensively organized by the Philippine government in the most severely affected areas, whereas two days right after the tragic event, international organizations from far and wide had already started to mobilize and dispatch their people and resources to attend immediately to the urgent needs in the Philippines. While the Philippine government still did not know what to do, a big group of German contingents representing various international humanitarian agencies arrived aboard Lufthansa with their carrier vehicles to do relief and rescue operations in the calamity areas. Surprised and dumbfounded, they could not reasonably figure out why they were indefinitely held at and prevented to get out of the Manila international airport by the Bureau of Customs personnel until the vehicles and relief goods they brought with them were taxed and turned over to the Philippine government’s jurisdiction. (This matter was however resolved by diplomatic personnel who arrived later and negotiated with Philippine government authorities.) Some hours later, the head of the Bureau of Internal Revenues (BIR) announced that relief goods from foreign countries would not be taxed if the donating agencies would officially turn them over to the Philippine government, which would in turn become the legitimate entity tasked to distribute them in the areas where they are most needed[...] Ridiculous… insane… absurd… [...] Apparently, she seemed to play ignorant of the fact that the Philippine government is notorious worldwide for being grossly untrustworthy after the most recent mind-blowing exposé of how senators and congressmen have plundered hundreds of millions (tens of billions of pesos) from the national government’s budget since some years back." maremmacinghialaaaaaaaaaa

Condividi