Calumpit mayor faces backlash for 'E-Ayuda' raffle requiring selfies from flooded residents
Mayor Lem Faustino of Calumpit, Bulacan drew ire for her "E-Ayuda" initiative in which she distributed flood assistance via a live raffle on social media.
In a Facebook post, Faustina called on her constituents in Calumpit to participate in the online contest, where they will give immediate aid via GCash to those affected by the heavy rains and floods brought by severe tropical storm Crising and the southwest monsoon.
On July 22, residents were asked to share a selfie of their family inside their flooded homes. Other mechanics included commenting their names, barangay they lived in, and GCash number, sharing the post, and tagging their friends to be eligible for the raffle. A July 23, 5 p.m. deadline was set for entries.
'Disaster relief isn't a contest'
The "E-Ayuda" was widely criticized online as "insensitive," with many arguing that "surviving a typhoon is not a game of luck."
Likewise, it faced backlash online, with some users highlighting that asking distressed individuals to perform social media tasks and rely on a raffle for urgent aid during a natural disaster was inappropriate and added to their burden.
"Ano po 'yan yan [may] pilian pa eh halos [naman] nasalanta po [dyan] sa Calumpit bakit may ganyan pa? Mamigay na lang po kayo sa mga bawat [barangay] na binaha," one user commented.
"While the intention to provide immediate assistance is appreciated, the mechanics requiring flooded families to post selfies and their GCash numbers publicly on social media is both insensitive and exploitative,' one user added.
"In times of hardship, our people deserve compassion and privacy, not to be turned into content or entries for a digital raffle. This kind of engagement, while seemingly creative, places dignity second to visibility," they continued.
Another user noted that "disaster relief isn't a contest, it's a responsibility."
Meanwhile, other users advised "rethinking" the approach in distributing aid.
"Mobilize barangay officials and social workers. Conduct house-to-house assessments. Show the kind of leadership that uplifts without fanfare. Our people need action, not optics," one Facebook user said.
Faustino responds
In the comment section, Faustino clarified that the local government does not choose who to give aid to and said that other initiatives are underway to help those in Calumpit, like evacuation, feeding programs, and visiting those most affected by the inclement weather.
In a Facebook live at around 7 p.m., the Calumpit mayor announced that all of the constituents who posted a photo of their flooded homes with their families would receive the aid via GCash.
"Hindi naman po sapat talaga ang budget ng pamahalaang bayan ng Calumpit kaya ang binibigyan po natin ang 'yung talagang most affected na individuals. Kaya rin po tayo naglalagay ng pictures is para makita rin po natin 'yung kalagayan ng kababayan natin," Faustina said during the stream.
She added that 250 beneficiaries would receive aid through GCash, before announcing the names of the recipients.
Meanwhile, in an interview with DZBB Super Radyo, Faustino said that she and her team "personally" relayed aid to the 43,000 affected families in the evacuation areas.
"Syempre po sa Facebook namin pinost para maiwasan din ang scammer. [Dito] sa aming bayan, ako po ang tinatawagan, minemessage na malalim ang tubig sa kanila, na kung maaari ay mag-Gcash at maka-abot ng tulong. [Ako] in good faith, ako na pure intention lang po na sabay-sabay kung ano ang magawa namin para makapaghatid ng tulong sa kababayan namin," she said.
DILG on E-Ayuda
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Jonvic Remulla told DZMM Teleradyo that, while the initiative is in "questionable taste," it is not illegal.
"Wala naman siyang nilabag na batas. Ang danger lang diyan ay open to abuse kung hindi tama ang accounting nila," he said.
Remulla also said that the local government should have a database on their constituents, as anybody could have joined the E-Ayuda.
"'Di sakin problema 'yan, problema niya ‘yan sa [Commission on Audit]. Titingnan lahat ng beneficiary kung tama ang nakakuha at kung taga sa kanila talaga at kung tama ang amount. Mahirap yan kasi 'di perfect ang ID natin sa telepono. Pero kung may sistema siya, God bless kung kaya niya," he said.
"COA will be the final determinant kung may mali siyang ginawa."
He also "strongly advised" against local governments giving away aid through a Facebook raffle if they don't have a system to determine that those who join are indeed their constituents.
PhilSTAR L!fe has reached out to Mayor Faustino but has yet to receive a reply.
