[UPDATE 11/22]: Oplan Hatid has resumed at Villamor Air Base.
If it ain’t broke, break it.
This seems to be the logic behind the decision to shut down ‘Oplan Hatid’, the final link in the chain of relief efforts, on Wednesday midnight.
Before Oplan Hatid was born the survivors who were transported from Tacloban to Villamor Air Base were fed, given clothing, and had to walk 1km to get outside the base and wait for a ride.
One of the organizers saw this and started Oplan Hatid with friends.
Until yesterday, it has been run by volunteers who work around the clock. According to GMA Network News, DSWD will take over Oplan Hatid beginning today.
Oplan Salubong, which takes care of welcoming the survivors, providing them food, clothing, medical aid and counselling, will be transferred to Camp Aguinaldo.
The reason: a supposed turf war between the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine Armed Forces, reports Philstar.com.
“The turf war has led to confusing and arbitrary changes in rules and policies, making it difficult for volunteers and those who want to volunteer to help the survivors of typhoon Yolanda,” Junep Ocampo, one of the organizers of Oplan Hatid, told Philstar. “Puro sarili lang nila ang iniisip nila,” he added.
The issue? “Who will be in the limelight.”
“The DSWD is technically the one who should be in charge, but since Villamor is the home of the Air Force, the ladies simply would not want to be overshadowed,” he said.
Who are these “ladies”? According to the Philstar.com report, Ocampo may be referring to association of wives of the ranking officials of the PAF.
Obviously, this is something we don’t need right now. Since midnight, there have been conflicting posts on social media about the whys, whos and wheres of ‘Oplan Hatid’ and we’re afraid that’s going to ruin the momentum of volunteers.
So, dear reader, don’t give up.
SEE ALSO:
– A Coconuts Manila contributor writes about her Oplan Hatid experience
