Rehabilitation czar

There's a new, well, rehabilitation czar in town. Former senator Panfilo Lacson has accepted President Aquino's offer to become the country's rehabilitation czar for the areas devastated by typhoon Yolanda. This means he would oversee all rehabilitation and construction projects, make sure everything is transparent and above board. He has a war chest of forty billion pesos, and aside from that, all incoming foreign aid will also have to be coursed through him. That is a lot of money. I guess we can say there is a new sheriff in town.

As always, there are those who cheer, as well as those who jeer his latest appointment. Some have even questioned yet another move by the president as Lacson's office technically does not exist. The president must first issue an executive order creating the said office. All disaster related projects are currently under the jurisdiction of the NDRRMC, whose powers may have been clipped because of the "rehabilitation department". So who is now answerable to whom?

But Lacson has stated that he is not there to step on toes, but rather walk right beside everyone who wants to help. He has also issued a stern warning to those who would abuse, misuse or do anything unscrupulous with the funds, that he would resort to his old "basagulero" character to deal with them. We know that he can talk the talk, so let's hope he can walk the walk.

In fact, there already many reports of unsavory actions being done in areas like Tacloban. Relief goods that have come from abroad were apparently switched with local goods for obvious reasons. It is really hard for me to grasp why this would be done at a time like this, but apparently, it is a Filipino trait to do that. Goods also looted during the first few days after the typhoon have hit the local markets. If memory serves me right, it is illegal to buy and sell stolen items. Will the new rehabilitation czar clamp down on this?

The former senator has his work cut out for him. Even in the presence of the law in typhoon ravaged areas, crime is still prevalent in one form or another. Everybody wants to see these areas come back to life. Everybody wants to see the people get back on their feet and live normal lives. But like always, they have to be told to obey the law of the land. If looting was tolerated before, God knows why, it should no longer be. The fact that looted goods are now being sold instead of being used during those desperate times only shows the true intent of looting.

With all government is going through these days, it is imperative that the people start seeing results. Results that will be beneficial to the country, and especially the people. The naysayers are also waiting for people to fail. They have fired their volleys at those who tried their best to bring things to order, they will not stop just because a new guy has come in. With the gargantuan task before him, the new czar better know what he is doing, and do well.