The Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC) expressed grave concern over the recent incident of red-tagging of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an article published by the Philippine News Agency, Southern Luzon Command Chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr. mentioned CDRC, together with other CSOs, as one of the “networks that are unwittingly exploited” by the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“Inspite of this, we reiterate our call to the government: ensure the safety of health workers by providing PPEs and other safety equipment, ensure all COVID positive and suspected COVID patients have free access to health services, provide quarantine facilities for PUIs and PUMs, establish testing centers in all regions, provide aid to health workers in private hospitals, ensure people have food and protect their livelihood, and control the price of basic commodities,” said CDRC.

CDRC added that the government should focus on the real foes today, which is the spread of COVID-19 and the catastrophe it is bringing to people socially and economically.

“For 35 years now, CDRC has been among the most steadfast organizations in providing emergency relief, recovery, and rehabilitation services to disaster-stricken communities nationwide. Tagging us as communist fronts in the middle of a national health crisis is a pathetic act of a government unable to adequately ease the burden of its suffering people,” said CDRC

“CSOs in DRRM work are frontliners in times of crisis- like the one we are facing now. For many years, we have been collaborating with local government units to provide services to people in need. This pandemic can only be addressed effectively if CSOs and community participation is encouraged by the government, instead of being threatened and harassed,”said CDRC.
For more information, contact Hanna Fiel at 0945-8355589.