TACLOBAN CITY, Nov.26 (PNA) — Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson is still focused on helping Tacloban despite protest over claims of slow government response.
“It is the right of everyone to air their sentiments, but I don’t want to be distracted by anything. We want to focus all our efforts to do what we need to do in our rehabilitation efforts,” Lacson told reporters during Tuesday’s visit to this city.
A group of protesters who are members of People Surge, Bayan and Gabriela staged a rally outside of the city’s legislative building to criticize the delayed and unsystematic distribution of emergency shelter assistance (ESA).
Upon hearing about the rally, Lacson cancelled his scheduled tour to the legislative building and the Commission on Audit (COA) building near the city hall grounds.
Dr. Efleda Bautista, People Surge chairperson, said they want to meet the rehabilitation czar to air their sentiments on the unclear system in the distribution of ESA, no coordination with village officials, and selective assistance.
Lacson and Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon J. Soliman distributed some Php12.53 million ESA funds for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino beneficiaries. (PNA)