A viral “e-ayuda” initiative in Calumpit, Bulacan was heavily criticized online for supposedly requiring flood-affected constituents to provide selfies to qualify for a raffle-like selection process and receive emergency cash assistance.
Calumpit Mayor Lem Faustino announced the mechanics for “E-Ayuda ni Mayor Lem” on her official Facebook page on Wednesday, July 23.
This comes after the province was officially placed under a state of calamity due to the widespread flooding brought by Typhoon Crising and persistent rains from the southwest monsoon or habagat.
“Sa diwang ito, nais nating ipakitang mga Calumpiteño na sa pagsasama-sama ng pamilya, babangon tayo nang sama-sama sa kalamidad na kinakaharap ng bayan sa kasalukuyan,” the post read.
“Makibahagi sa E-Ayuda ni Mayor Lem at magkaroon ng pagkakataon na mabigyan ng agarang ayuda sa ating LIVE mamaya.”
The initiative invited Calumpiteños to post photos of their flooded homes with their families, along with personal information, in the comments section of the post, adding that those who wanted to participate must be following the mayor’s page. Residents were also urged to share the post and tag Facebook friends to increase its reach before the 5 PM cutoff on the same day.
Entries were to be drawn live later that evening for cash aid to be transferred to their digital wallet app accounts.
“Abangan at tumutok sa ating LIVE mamayang gabi para sa live na pagbunot ng mga mapipiling comments at makakatanggap ng E-Ayuda mula sa ating Pamahalaang Bayan. I-SHARE ang post na ito, tiyaking naka-FOLLOW sa ating page at abangan ang ating LIVE na pagtulong mamayang gabi,” the post concluded.
The move, however, quickly drew backlash online, with many questioning why residents must go through a selection process to receive aid while already struggling with a crisis, despite it being an obligation from their local government unit (LGU).
“Ano po ‘yan may pilian pa ‘e halos naman na salanta po dyan sa Calumpit bakit may ganyan pa. Mamigay na lang po kayo sa mga bawat barangay na binaha,” a concerned netizen commented on Faustino’s post.
In response, Mayor Faustino clarified that the raffle mechanism was not a replacement for their official relief efforts but an alternative way to provide help to residents.
“PAGLILINAW: Sa mahabang panahon, hindi kailanman naging polisiya ng ating Pamahalaang Bayan na mamili sa mga bibigyan ng tulong kaya nga isa itong paraan para makapaghatid tayo ng tulong sa talagang nangangailangan,” she explained.
Faustino went on to enumerate five ongoing efforts of their LGU, including evacuation center support, food distribution in barangays, deployment of house-to-house aid teams, and visits to the most heavily impacted areas.
She acknowledged that budget limitations prevent them from covering the entire population at once, prompting the need to assess and prioritize those in greater need.
“Ipinapaalam din natin sa lahat na talagang hindi sasapat ang budget para bigyan ang buong Calumpiteños kaya’t ang priority natin ay ang mga talagang nangangailangan,” the mayor concluded her comment.
In a following live broadcast, Faustino expounded more on the intent behind the e-ayuda.
“Ito pong e-ayuda na ito, isa lang po itong pamamaraan para makapag-abot tayo ng tulong sa mga kababayan,” she reiterated, as quoted by ABS-CBN News.
Faustino clarified that all those who posted photos showing flood damage with their families during the set timeframe will receive financial aid.
“Lahat po ng post na nag-post po doon ng picture together with their family and may baha sa kanilang bahay — ito po ang sinasabi ko lagi na wala po kaming pinipili. Lahat po [ng] nag-post ay magbibigyan po natin ng tulong,” she explained.
Faustino added that the photos help them assess and verify residents’ conditions and stressed that their focus is on mutual support, not criticism, as local officials continue relief efforts despite personal challenges.
In response to the criticisms, she addressed the concerns by saying, “Ang importante po rito ay ‘yung bawat isa nagtutulungan. Yung pamba-bash o paninira ay hindi po natin ‘yan ie-entertain dahil bawat isa po rito, mga konsehal, basa pa po rito hanggang ngayon. Kahit po masama pakiramdam ng ilan sa konsehal ngayon, tuloy po ang ating pagbibigay ng tulong.”
