Beneath the Sewers

 

                                               (image: msn.com)

Taong imburnal.

Last May 26, 2025, William Roberts shared photos of a woman emerging from a sewer at the corner of V.A. Rufino and Adelantado Streets on Reddit. Authorities later found the woman and sealed the drainage (Nick Garcia, philstar.com, 2023).

In a Facebook post on Thursday, May 29, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced that its personnel had interviewed the woman and assessed her situation to determine the appropriate support and intervention. Reports indicate that the woman allegedly received ₱80,000 in government assistance.

This sparked a backlash among netizens, some of whom sarcastically suggested finding a conspicuous sewer themselves in hopes of receiving a similar amount. Others criticized the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), accusing it of offering token handouts while ignoring the deeper issue—that some individuals are living in such extreme poverty that they have taken shelter in sewers. For these critics, the agency's actions represent a mere band-aid solution to the government's persistent neglect of the poor.

In his seminal work A Theory of Justice (1971), John Rawls argued that a just society must prioritize the needs of its least advantaged members through fair and sustainable institutional arrangements. While the DSWD’s financial aid may appear compassionate, Rawls would likely critique it as insufficient if it does not address the systemic conditions that led the woman to live in such dire circumstances.

After receiving numerous brickbats and memes from netizens, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) defended its decision to give P80,000 in livelihood assistance to Rose – the woman who went viral on social media after she was spotted emerging from a sewer in Makati.

Sought for comment, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said there is nothing unusual for their department to help poor people such as Rose. Dumlao said Rose underwent a case management process wherein the latter was interviewed and assessed by social workers, according to the latest report of Jose Rodel Clapano.

“When social workers asked Rose what she wants, she said she wants a sari-sari store to start her life over,” Dumlao said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

But what are the deeper implications of this situation? Can we simply turn a blind eye to the reality that there are individuals who are forced to scavenge through sewers just to survive? What has become of the very society we claim to uphold and protect? More importantly, is there a comprehensive and systemic intervention that can prevent such social injustices, often dismissed as mere 'eyesores', from continuing to afflict the Filipino people?

This phenomenon underscores the failure of existing social safety nets and raises urgent questions about the effectiveness of current poverty alleviation programs. According to Reyes et al. (2019), despite various government interventions, a significant portion of the Filipino population remains vulnerable to extreme poverty, particularly in urban areas. Turning a blind eye to such realities not only dehumanizes the marginalized but also reflects a deeper erosion of collective societal responsibility.

As Porio (2020) argues, urban poverty is not merely a result of individual failure but a manifestation of systemic neglect and unequal access to resources and opportunities.

A truly humane and progressive society cannot thrive while segments of its population are relegated to the margins. What is needed is not temporary relief, but sustainable, inclusive development strategies that prioritize human dignity, equitable access to resources, and long-term social investment. Only through such systemic and compassionate reforms can we begin to transform these grim images into narratives of hope and resilience.