Yolanda survivors drinking, gambling away aid, Borongan bishop laments

Many survivors of Typhoon Yolanda may have fallen into gambling and drinking in a so-called culture of dependence, a Catholic bishop in Eastern Samar said.

 

Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez said this could be part of the "unhappy realities" from the aid by local and international donors, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said.

 

"For instance, out of the millions or even billions of money that have come into survivors’ hands through different interventions of various institutions or persons, it is observed that only very few families and individuals have properly utilized such financial assistance. In fact, many families and individuals have used such financial assistance for other deplorable purposes,” the CBCP quoted him as saying.

 

“Gambling, especially cockfighting, both legal and illegal, has registered more occurrences in our communities. Even fishing is on the downswing, with the price of fish in the markets increasing, simply because fewer fishermen go fishing despite having received free fishing boats, fishing nets, and other paraphernalia,” he added.

 

Citing information reaching him, he said sales of beer and alcoholic beverages doubled in calamity-hit communities months after Yolanda and Ruby.

 

On the other hand, he cited a decrease in farm harvests that he said could be from a lack of interest in farming.

 

Yolanda tore through the Visayas in November 2013, leaving more than 6,300 dead.

 

Worse off after 5 years?

 

Varquez lamented many survivors may have adopted a mentality of easy money through cash-for-work, the Social Welfare department’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and other financial assistance programs.

 

“If this situation does not change, within three to five years after the INGOs (international non-government organizations), NGOs and other institutions shall have left us, the poverty level in our affected areas will likely be worse than before the super typhoons,” he warned.

 

The prelate reminded survivors to use the resources on hand to boost the local economy and make sure aid money is not wasted.

 

He also stressed the need for Church and government to work together and teach people the value of hard work and productivity.

 

Also, he suggested closer supervision of how aid money is spent, and requested priests and lay leaders to teach survivors the value of self-reliance and independence. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News