The urban poor and environmental groups launched a series of protests today, July 29, at the national offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Metro Manila. They hold the Marcos regime and its agencies accountable for their negligence and responsibility towards the victims of typhoon Carina last week.

Led by Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), they condemned the Marcos regime’s lack of immediate response to the communities that were ravaged by flooding and heavy rains last week. The people of Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City shared their experience that no ambulance or rescue came to their community. One of the victims of this negligence was a woman who died of a heart attack.

Ka Inday Bagasbas, leader of Kadamay-Sityo San Roque, condemned the Ayala Corporation, which residents blame for the flooding their community suffers every time it rains. She said that they have been constantly experiencing flooding since the Ayala Corporation implemented its “development” projects and demolished some parts of Sityo San Roque. She said that the lack of assistance from any government agency adds to their suffering.

Amid all these, Kadamay demanded that the DSWD immediately release the emergency aid of ₱10,000 to support the poor. The group stressed that many of the affected by the recent typhoon have not yet recovered. The group also delivered a letter to the DSWD office in this regard.

“The DSWD should not be selective of beneficiaries. Many of the needy cannot go to the DSWD office because they are still in evacuation areas. The DSWD itself should be the one to approach the affected communities,” the group said.

Kadamay and Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment also trooped to the DENR office. They held the agency responsible for the ongoing reclamation and destruction of mountains that resulted in widespread flooding. “The community’s belongings are submerged and washed out and recovering from the disaster is difficult for them, the government still has no action to solve these problems,” said Kadamay.

The groups shouted together: “Marcos Jr, a disaster to the poor!” The entire Metro Manila was placed under a “state of calamity” after the devastation of typhoon Carina.