Over the past few weeks, the Philippines has been attacked relentlessly by typhoons that have caused the worst flooding in Metro Manila in decades as well as flooding all over the northern island of Luzon. As a result, relief efforts by Filipinos all over the globe have been begun to aid those who need it the most. Unfortunately, politics has reared its ugly head.
In a politically ugly–but unfortunately unsurprising–move, the Filipino government has threatened to tax every box sent to Filipino relief organizations in a blatant way to make money off this natural disaster which could ultimately bankrupt many of these groups. Groups in New York and New Jersey here in the US have responded by trying to pressure the Filipino government and in the meantime have also threatened to send these boxes to the Philippines themselves to avoid the tax and to distribute these goods to the people who need it most.
My recommendation is to send money to reputable organizations like the Philippine Red Cross until this brouhaha settles down. Personally, it’s one of many reasons why I consider the Filipino government so corrupt.
