Dir Valero and the Lingap kids

Vic G. del Pilar

It's unfortunate NEDA Director Arturo Valero is not in the capacity to help the children at the Lingap Center in this city. Director Valero does not appreciate children in need. It was for this reason he declined, refused or, if needed even consigned the ZPPI's tickets away into the garbage box for its media request for help finance the children's project, on this Yuletide season.

Like Director Valero's children the Lingap kids need to be  happy this Christmas because it is only during this season that one understands what is gift giving especially for the poor children. It is during Christmas when one can tell the kind of person or Office Head you are, through the help you extend towards the others. Unfortunately, Director Valero is not that kind. He does not belong to the poor sector. And  he is not pro poor. That is why he is not interested to help the children at the Lingap Center who are marginalized and malnourished. The good director does not need media mileage anyway. Why should he give support to ZPPI?

Giving the Lingap children a good look this Christmas is the media's concern this season. It was for this reason that the general membership of the Zamboanga and Pagadian Press, Inc. launched a raffle draw purposely to raise funds to finance its projects. And the Lingap kids is one. A lot of sponsors both from the private sectors and government welcome the idea that is so laudable enough. After all it is only during Christmas that one reaches out to give his best.

But that NEDA, being headed by Director Valero is not interested to help. And his reason is simple. He has returned the ZPPI request simply because his office does not have enough funds to pay for the two stubs of raffle tickets valued at P1,000, at the rate of P10 per raffle ticket. The ZPPI would even be a lot happier if Director Valero, out of curiosity, donated even one (1) raffle ticket worth P10 Pesos for a sickly and malnourished child at the Lingap Center. Returning the raffle tickets was not a problem for ZPPI. But the act of returning the tickets alone constituted  an insult to injury on the leadership of the media community in this city.

In his letter to Ms. Remai Alejado, ZPPI Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, NEDA Director Valero said "we regret to inform you that our office is currently experiencing tight budgeting due to the withholding of unreleased MOOE budget for this year. Consequently, we are returning the raffle tickets enclosed because we have no enough fund to pay for it."

Without Director Valero, the ZPPI, thru its young and ever blooming ZPPI president Charnyl Albaracin, and  in coordination with the other government agencies in this city sympathetic to the cause of charity will push through on its bid to help the Lingap children. This year's project is one       of ZPPI's targets of performing its corporate social responsibility to the community.