The presidential election could fatally delay shipments of rice to starving Mindanao people for several weeks, the Red Cross warned yesterday.
The warning came just as the full extent of the famine was becoming apparent.
'It can't be denied . . . we have many thousands of very, very hungry people out there and this drought still may have more than two months to go,' said James Sian, head of the Disaster Management Service for the Philippine National Red Cross.
He warned that latest government estimates showed more than 110,000 families - about 700,000 people - had been affected after the failure of March crops.
'If there had not been an election coming now, I don't think there would be this problem. Everyone has been too busy with other things.
'We must now operate with speed but I think the situation can be managed.' The Government has called for Red Cross assistance to avoid breaking strict election rules that prevent civil servants and elected officials using emergency food aid to win votes.
Mr Sian said the poll restrictions had been clear for some time and the Red Cross could have been brought in two weeks ago, adding that both local governments and farmers could also have done more to prepare themselves.
