Bohol remains the world’s focus as a result of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake last October 15. Help has been pouring from souls with golden hearts from all over the country among Filipinos and from foreign governments and institutions dedicated to helping those in distress as a result of disasters. There are those who came and extended help without fanfare. They may never get recognition for what they are doing but that is the beauty of a genuine heart. They thrive because of the inner satisfaction that they get out of doing something good for their fellow men and not because of other ulterior motives.

The period of rescue and recovery is over. While we still grieve and feel very bad over the loss of more than 200 lives and countless properties like homes that families painstakingly built for their families over a period of time from their savings and loans, it is now time to think of rebuilding both structures and the collapsed psyche of the victims. There are still thousands who refuse to return to their houses even if these were not destroyed. Rehabilitation should now be the focus especially of government for destroyed roads, bridges, hospitals, town halls, and school buildings. There must be soft loan programs for workers who lost their houses and grants for those who have no means to pay for the rebuilding of their houses. We need that and many other programs that may be provided by charitable institutions.

I know that non-government organizations (NGOs) known for their charitable work that are not yet in the province would like to establish their bases here like the Save the Children and the Catholic Relief Services. We welcome them and others who have similar core competencies to help a disaster-hit people. However while there are doves who bring and offer messages of help and assistance, there are also vultures waiting for the dead to rot so they could feast on them. I am referring to those who are just waiting in the wayside watching for the opportunity to pounce on the vulnerable population who, because of the tragedy, are pushed to accept anything just to return to normal life again. They could be the human traffickers, the loan sharks, and all types of criminals like illegal drug syndicates who love to prey on the oppressed.

I am particularly concerned about human trafficking because of the existence of the push factor that could waylay them to it. There is also the concern about a possible outbreak of disease among the tent dwellers, especially children, because of overcrowding and possibly lack of sanitation. As of last week only a few of the residents inside the tent houses have been vaccinated by DOH. I heard they have a problem with inadequate vaccine storage in Bohol. Another concern is the upcoming barangay elections in Bohol. Because of this the provisions of the Omnibus Election Law are in effect and this could somehow affect relief and rehabilitation work. While a system and procedure have been put in place by the Comelec, any prohibition on what can be done by local government officials will always have effect on relief and rehabilitation work.

Already there are stories filtering that some evacuees have more food items in their custody than they used to have before the earthquake. Some families say that before they used to buy only a kilo of rice at a time but now they have sacks full of it with them. Another story is that families who already returned to their houses assign a different member of the family at the evacuation center every day to make sure that the family still receives whatever food items that are delivered. One volunteer told me that in one of the barangays they went to, the school was converted into a large storage food center. These stories cannot continue to be told. Hoarding is a heinous crime in terms of crisis.

Let’s give hope to our people in crisis.

NOTES. I went around cemeteries Friday and yesterday and observed that the earthquake has not dampened at all the way Boholanos pay respects to their dead. The cemeteries were full of life on All Saints and Souls Days because the living have invaded them.