The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAG-ASA) has declared that the rainy season has indeed come to the Philippines. Many have been anticipating this as a break from the El Niňo season that has brought the country to its knees as it triggered shortage in water, energy and food supply. Despite the relief it brings, the rainy season has brought back bitter memories of the recent year’s tragedies to some Filipinos.  Basing on experience, is the country now more prepared in times of disasters?

Filipino resiliency in coping with calamities

Ramil Gulle commuted to Kamuning, Quezon City when Typhoon Ondoy’s heavy rains poured that  Saturday morning. He was supposed to meet his doctor when the clinic nurse informed him that all appointments have been cancelled as the clinic is flooded. Shock overcame him when he disembarked the MRT and realized that EDSA is flooded from the waist up. He met up with his wife who got stranded going home in an obscure hotel lobby waiting for the flood waters to subside and for transportation to resume.

Others have not been so lucky as Ramil. Ten years before Ondoy, on 2 August 1999,  a heart-breaking tragedy happened in Cherry Hills Subdivision, Antipolo City.  Typhoon Olga brought about heavy rains causing landslides that covered more than 300 homes.  Authorities believed that it was a terrible mix of bad weather and human error.  All of these could have been prevented if the developers did not build home on the sloped lands and if the materials that were used in the construction were not substandard.

Aside from storms and landslides, other natural tragedies struck the Philippine landscape in a major way. David Poarch was a young boy living in the military base when the eruption of Mount Pinatubo struck Zambales in June 1991. He had to contend with the mounds ash that scratched the glass of his father’s windshield and covered their whole roof. Although they did not need relief goods at that time, the whole provincial landscape was changed as agricultural lands became wasted ash dunes.

From reactive to preventive

The government has been often blamed for poorly constructed infrastructure, public fund corruption, and badly coordinated relief operations.  Thankfully, Philippine senators addressed the issue by filing the  Philippine Disaster Risk Management Act of 2009.  The act aims to impose penalties on violators of policies that will be adopted by the government in response to climate change.  With this act, the way government agencies respond to disasters will be transformed from reactive to preventive.  The change is seen to definitely reduce the risk to communities brought about by climate change.

Meanwhile, the Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP), a regional resource center, is advocating another bill called Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) which focuses on participative disaster risk reduction.  Simply put, the bill calls for the participation of the community in emergency management activities.  The CDP believes that the locals should be included in the decision-making process when it comes to risk reduction since they know their communities better.  Aside from counting on the local government officials in the planning process, the thoughts and suggestions of civil society organizations will also be considered.

During times of disasters, what is traditionally seen in the country is the distribution of relief goods and evacuation and relocation of calamity victims.  Hopefully, all of these will eventually be lessened as soon as the said bills are enacted.  Through the bottom-up approach, disaster preparedness begins with the individual, then his community, and eventually, the whole country.

An ounce of preparedness is worth a pound of rescue

Despite surviving the aftermath of the recent disasters, Filipino families have realized they need to make an emergency kit readily available in the future. On top of Jane Chua’s list are provisions for at least 72 hours of water and ready-to-eat food such as canned goods, candies, cup noodles, and crackers.  At the bottom of  Lynn Zamora’s list, on the other hand, are extra batteries for their mobile phones, flashlights and compact radios, a sharp knife, candles with matches, and a big waterproof resealable bag.

Others suggest that each home should have a first aid kit, extra clothing and thick blankets for every member of the household, slippers, and raincoats.  They also advise having extra cash on hand just in case the ATMs conk out in your area.

Communities in disaster-prone areas like those barangays in Western Visayas are currently undergoing training from the Citizen’s Disaster Response Center. The training, facilitated by Singapore-based Mercy Relief, will cover instruction on community-based and participative disaster management, preparedness, information system and emergency response. They will also hold introductions on hazard mapping, community drills (for flood/landslide evacuation) and early warning systems.

Although most establishments like offices, hospitals, and schools have certain building safety measures to follow, they also have a different set of training for disaster preparedness.

One important feature is the regular drills where, in case of an emergency, employees and other people within the vicinity are supposed to congregate in a safe place. The safe place should contain provisions for the entire company good enough for 72 hours. It should also have the escape plans and safety manuals in writing so that everyone is familiar with the standard operating procedure when disasters strike.

The next item in the agenda is protecting the company’s data. This would include securing copies of the data digitally in back-up memories stored in fire-proof and water-proof vaults. Original copies of such data should be placed in safety deposit boxes beforehand.

The last item would be the secure evacuation of the people in the safe room when possible and contacting the authorities for assistance.

Disaster, aside from death, is a great leveler

Emergency kits and disaster management training aside, it also helps to learn specific tactics in coping with different types of disasters. Some websites provide specific topics in preparation and survival from any kind of disaster that might occur. Other institutions like the Center for Disaster Preparedness have trainings focused on the needs for emergency and disaster management of the training participants. Organizations like the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) coordinate with different government agencies for their programs for disaster management.

No one is immune when natural or man-made disasters strike. Everyone is affected, whether in great or small ways.  Giselle Sanchez, a popular comedienne, even made a parody of the Ondoy disaster even though it obliterated her family’s investments.

The only edge that one can ever have against any disaster is being prepared.

Photos by the author. Some Rights Reserved.

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Mauie Flores is a 24-hour mommy living a sugar-free sweet life. A former pre-school teacher, she is now busy blogging and writing web content articles while managing her household and taking care of her boys. The mole on her sole explains why she travels a lot when her busy writing schedule permits her to.