It is heartwarming to note that the PAGASA predicted early the path and strength of the storm Yolanda. In return, the local government officials starting with Gov. Roel Degamo, and City Mayor Chiquiting Sagarbaria, took it upon themselves to exercise the public welfare clause. No classes, no offices, public or private in all levels.
This time, the people heeded the warnings. It is better to be proactive that just wait for disaster to strike then blame government for not being able to rescue or protect the people from danger. Remember “to expect the worst and hope for the best!”
Yolanda predicted to hit beyond 200 kms. per hour winds within the Visayas path, and reach our shores.
People were complaining that the government and the media were exaggerating, making all the unnecessary hype about the storm, but it is “better safe than sorry”.
There is usually “the calm before the storm” then usually, the waters rise or winds strike within seconds, and it is too late to evacuate when the storm hit.
Those who live along rivers and esteros were reluctant to leave but they were forced to evacuate to safer grounds. Is this fair, when they were concerned about possible looting of their homes?
All material possessions can be regained but the loss of one life is too much, when it could be prevented. What is the price of having to sleep at an uncomfortable chapel or school room, in exchange for one’s safety? There is no logical argument about which could be more precious.
Filipinos with their much-touted fatalism will always say: Bahala na ang Dios namo! (God will take care of us.)
This time, we are learning to help ourselves and do something about the situation. It is better to be overprepared, be found to have overreacted, than to be unconcerned and sorry.
While the situation was unfolding, one couldn’t have predicted the outcome for sure but everyone listened this time. And this time, everyone braced for the storm, safe, were praying, coping and adjusting to the whims and caprices of climate change and bad weather.
And maybe this time, everyone was conscious of the fact that each person has a responsibility to take care of the environment, to take action, like making sure that we reduce-reuse-recycle.
It is time to review the presence of effective drainage systems, management of rivers and waterways, disaster preparedness is well and good; the factors that lead to quick flooding should be examined, and from the evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses, measures may be implemented to address the issue of clogging and presence of plastics bags, and other refuse along drainage systems.
This has to be an on-going concern. The problem with us is that when the storm has come and gone, everyone goes back to our usual (bad) habits and lifestyle, and forget about the consequences of improper waste disposal, for instance.
But it is not too late. People hope that no other storm will hit us but, as always, we are in the tropics and the ring of fire facing the Pacific, so it comes with the territory. The only thing people can do is learn to be proactive, learn to cope, and to adapt with nature.
This time Mayor Chiquiting and Governor Degamo took the lead.
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Author’s email: [email protected]
