Workers need financial aid, not loans

MANILA, Philippines – Members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) are set to mount a rally in the next few days to pressure the government into extending immediate financial assistance, not loans, to typhoon-affected workers.

KMU chair Elmer Labog said workers should be able to avail themselves of the necessary calamity assistance from the government.

He said workers severely affected by typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” are in dire need of direct assistance, not loans from the Government Service Insurance System or the Social Security System.

“We already have many loans, and the damage we have sustained is just too big. The best way for the government to help is to provide direct calamity assistance, not loans,” Labog explained.

He said ordinary people have been giving part of their savings to help typhoon-affected Filipinos, while the government keeps a tight grip on huge funds coming from the private sector, non-government organizations, and other countries.

He said workers have long been helping themselves and at this time of distress it is appropriate for the government to help those who have been severely affected by the typhoons, particularly poor workers.

“Workers do not need slow-moving calamity loans. We want calamity assistance to be granted immediately,” Labog said.  — Mayen Jaymalin, Philippine Star