To defend and protect each other

As the APEC 2015 begins this week, Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez has a suggestion that delegates might want to pick up for consultation or discussion. This is the need to do away with “permission to extend assistance” in major calamities as well as the need for an international agreement to wave all duties and taxes as well as red-tape processing of equipment and supplies needed for relief and rescue operation.

For decades, we have heard or seen relief goods, equipment and supplies go to waste or rust and eventually get thrown away or burned by NGOs, government or donors simply because these got stuck at the airport or sea ports for lack of paper work, clearance or taxes. You can’t bring in the much needed water-purifiers, generators, solar equipment, portable field hospitals on the first week when you need them the most because they get held up at Customs.

Long after Typhoon Yolanda, donors are still shocked to learn about red tape regarding the importation even of books that are officially tax-free. The problem is shippers or handlers still require you to get a customs broker who charges P800 and up, who in turn asks you to write a letter to the all powerful Cesar Purisima, Secretary of Finance in order to wave the duties and taxes or certify that books are indeed tax free in the Philippines! If Purisima doubts this, ask one of his staff to buy a book and send it here via DHL. Or he can ask Bert Lina exactly why things get bogged down.

In the mean time, if any of the APEC policy writers or delegates manage to read this article, could you please find a way for this to be taken up. A flood of tax-free emergency equipment and relief goods for a month will not bankrupt the Bureau of Customs or the Department of Finance, but it will save lives hopefully yours!

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We must learn to defend and protect each other from the worst that is in us. As it turns out 9/11 was not a “one of a kind thing.” Since then many terrorist attacks have taken place defying the rules of predictability, human decency, or political definition. The recent cases in Africa, the Middle East and the developed Western World have in fact ramped up the hate, the atrocity and evil by all measures. One might suggest, and people will probably believe it, that all these are certifiably “The Devil’s Handiwork.”

Yesterday while scanning the news and the web, I came across an article that suggested that Singapore and the Philippines were likely to be targeted by ISIS or a similarly oriented terrorist group because of Singapore’s influence and political power in the region, while the Philippines might be “punished” for being pro-western or pro-American and predominantly Christian. The article was not one of those deep studies or fruits of intense intelligence work, but it was enough to cause a stir and minor concern from some readers especially after the second wave of terrorist attacks hit Paris, France and coming a few days before the start of the APEC Week in Manila.

God forbid such an attack did take place in Manila, what would be its most serious consequence? Body counts tend to shock initially but you can almost predict that people will probably focus more on the audacity or unbelievable ease that terrorist do things, or perhaps the degree of severity by which they commit their attack. Chances are it would turn into another wave of criticism against the current government as well as armchair analysis.

What would really worry me is what sort of public reaction or backlash will take place if such a Jihadist terrorist attack happened in Metro Manila such as the one that happened in Paris. Like a tsunami or tidal wave of hate, the first attack will hurt “us” the general population, but after that the predictable second wave of hate would not be specific to terrorist but more likely will blindly target anyone associated with the faith of Islam. The innocent will suffer for the crime of the terrorists.

This is the reason why we Christians and Muslims in the Philippines must now learn and act to defend and protect each other from the worst that is in us: our fears, ignorance, indifference and lack of action. These are the things that lead us to commit unspeakable crimes, not our faith.

Experts and opinion leaders say that an attack is not about “If” but “When” and if it cannot be prevented or avoided, we must as a society and as a nation immediately act to let everyone know, “we” are not the enemy. We must make it our business to make Christians and Muslims in the Philippines work together and support each other more, whether in the shopping malls, the sporting events or corridors of power. To interact more and share more in knowledge, culture and experience so that when we have a newfound relationship, outsiders will not easily tear us apart.

Vigilance and security will benefit us all, but it is not a strong enough glue to bind our wounds and hearts when wounded by terrorist. What will keep us together is what we build together: relationship and trust. Divisive territories and political demarcation lines, emphasis on rebellion and independence or difference of religion or culture will serve to ruin us. In spite of our differences, our governments and society has moved forward and towards inclusive integration, respect and acceptance of Muslims. Our people’s economic necessities have forced us to live and learn about the Muslim faith in different countries in the Middle East as well as Asia. This is no mere coincidence and should not be wasted as such. It is providential in a world of changing ways and threats.

Those in government, particularly those tasked to head commissions and offices dealing with culture and faith must now refocus their efforts initiating interaction, public awareness, and greater shared activities and exposure beyond their mandate and comfort zone. Don’t wait to be told or forced by circumstance. Act now or repent later.

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