By Anthony A. Araos
Way past noon-time, the Bossing of Kiangan’s Municipal Social Welfare and Development office and his personnel were treated to a “good” lunch or so after attending meticulously for hours the town’s AKAP (Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita) program beneficiaries at the cash-out program in Lagawe. This also provided them a short nice self for this all-important two-day DSWD activity.
MSWD officer Mario Indopia placed the project’s target of recipients at 2,500 from the town’s 14 villages. At the end of the day, 1,947 folks got their share of the pie. For the shortfall of the Ph 25 million outlay. Of course, there were extremely long lines just to receive Php 4,500. Some of these impoverished folks even brought along their children.
Goodness sake, no lunch was served. Not even water for these cash-starved villagers. Kiangan to Lagawe is about eight kilometers. I heard that some of them went to the capital town by walking for obvious reasons. I saw the tarpaulin of the Rural Bank of Cauayan, Inc (that’s located in Isabela with no branch in Ifugao). It reportedly got a certain amount of money from each beneficiary Php 100, sounds like “service charge” or “withholding tax”? It was incredibly scary and weird because the truth is, there’s no way to entirely make such as miscue if there’s good planning and a small dose of common sense. The provincial capitol building is just a few meters away from the venue. It’s so-called “Honorable” officials apparently forgot these folks were their “constituents.”
Above all, why not hold this activity right there in Kiangan. The tricycle ride is Php 50 one way. A highly-placed event organizer said: “They’re afraid and it’s not safe” Oh common, don’t you trust the Philippine National Police? Surely, this is an item that maybe a lot of folks don’t want to talk, certainly that many of them don’t feel a need to be talked to.
True, such discomforts and pains are getting on my nerves. A Pindungan Barangay Council personnel declared: “This is a picture of greed. Each one wants to get all the money!” Of course, they want it badly. The corrupt politicians stole the people’s money as shown in the flood control mess. Senators, congressmen and contractors amassed ill gotten wealth from taxpayer’s monies. Then, I feel like cursing. Then again, I’m not surprised and unfazed why can’t this stupidity be wiped out? In many places here, I see a lot of parallelism between stupidity and ignorance.
Sadly, most LGUs are not fiscally prudent and responsible. A lot of funds are going to patronage politics and corruption, displacing the needs of the people, most especially the poor. Small wonder, rural folks became poorer. Alas, there is Akap ! It was even used in the May 2025 midterm polls by administration candidates.
Poverty is so severe, especially in remote villages. Easing the people’s difficulties cannot be achieved through mere dole outs, without addressing poverty and other core societal concerns. This is the ultimate solution that will uplift the lives of the Filipino people with the hig cost of living vis-à-vis the low purchasing power of the peso, the Php 4,500 is just as good for two days! The fact that local officials do not seem worried by the “deduction” and other difficulties faced by these folks is a cause for concern.
I remember a Tuplac woman complaining how much it cost to be living these days. I’m glad that some Ifugao folks are beginning to see the importance for the profound understanding of inflation.
The Akap doleout scheme isn’t a useful tool in addressing the poverty problem in conjunction with strategies of the government in setting the tone for improving the conditions of the poor. That is only because poverty is distorting the dignity of folks like that Tuplac woman.
For so many years, Ifugao had a lot of officials who are in denial mode on poverty. They eat excuses and alibis for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have all seen it in the movies and social media: Hear no evil, See no evil and Say no evil!
How does Mario Indopia do it? It’s nice to know that Mr. Indopia has exerted his utmost of bringing the government much, much closer to the people, while many others are just simply sleeping in their posts. For many were touched by his loving and caring presence in the activity. On any day, I hope he will continue his way up the ladder and promote the common good.
All told, government should step up creating an enabling environment that will generate productive employment and job opportunities for poor folks. Once there, something takes place. Call it mindset changes. Changing a mindset means being open to doing it differently. Overall, by then staying in long lines for Php 1,500 “ayuda” (aid) is just simply impractical at best. Enjoy yourself: you have earned it off! I guess, its more than Php 4,500.**
