Bulacan mayor requires flood photos for aid

The Calumpit local government in Bulacan launched an 'e-ayuda' mechanism on Wednesday that drew criticism for requiring residents to upload photos showing floodwaters inside their homes to receive financial assistance.

Residents were asked to post selfies of themselves in the floods and share them on Facebook until 5 p.m. on the same day, with Mayor Lem Faustino defending the initiative during a Facebook live event.

Faustino clarified that all those who complied would receive assistance through G-Cash and emphasized that house-to-house visits were also conducted to provide help, prioritizing residents in evacuation centers first.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla criticized making aid distribution a game of chance and stressed the need for empathy, compassion, and equity during crises.

Meanwhile, some residents cooked food and handed it out to their neighbors, while Department of Social Welfare and Development aid has been distributed to affected families.