EDITORIAL - Our view of things

The greatest consolation victims of super typhoon Yolanda had going for them was that the international relief effort was swift, immense and practical. By the second day, help was already pouring in. More than 30 countries and scores of organizations eventually chipped in. And the aid answered every conceivable need.

Had it not been for the international response, God knows what kind of problem the Philippines would be facing today. Yet, for all the robust international help that greatly lifted much of the burden from its puny shoulders, the Philippine government has not taken much effort to make it up to these foreign samaritans.

For instance, given that many of these foreign samaritans are still in place in the affected areas to continue the relief and rehabilitation work, it would have greatly imparted the impression of our appreciation if our own government prominently shows its face in these areas, if only to keep our foreign friends company.

But in many instances, in fact too many as to be shameful, no hint of government presence can be felt or seen. It is as if our government has completely entrusted the task of bringing the affected areas back to their feet to others.

Good if this lack of government presence is due to the lack of resources, which is precisely the reason why the foreign response has been so immense, as if in recognition of our incapability and incompetence. But one look at the vigorousness with which government is instead politicking and you know this is not the case.

Clearly the government has other priorities and rehabilitation is not one of them. This almost total lack of concern is matched by its almost total lack of urgency. Why, in Cebu alone, hundreds of container vans filled with rice and other goods lie unreleased and close to spoiling in port.

Why? Because government, completely ignoring good intentions, elected to stay technical and by the book in a situation that otherwise constituted a great national emergency. Such a situation called for government to waive all restrictions and pull all the stops. Forget the fees. This is the world sending its best regards.

But no. The Philippines cannot see a good thing when it sees one. For all the billions of dollars worth of foreign aid that it otherwise cannot provide its own people, our government just cannot bring itself up to waiving those fees. Do we really still need to make money out of the help that benefits no one but ourselves?