‘Hagupit’ in disaster-challenged Philippines
The erratic typhoon “Hagupit” a.k.a. “Ruby” dominated the minds and attention of over 100 million Filipinos especially the authorities and those living in coastal communities and their families abroad.
Social networks are abuzz with information from government agencies and well-meaning citizens trying to do their share to help in minimizing the typhoon’s devastating impacts. Infographics and links for updates to weather information from DOST’s Project Noah and Pag-asa and some from the meteorological monitoring centers are highly educational and help soothe the feelings of anxiety and dread that a supertyphoon in the caliber of “Haiyan” and “Hagupit” naturally brings.
The general impression is we are slowly learning from our heavily scarred past of gross neglect and inaction. There are announcements of power outages, evacuations and cancellations of flights or vessels’ departures, among others, without a howl of protest from concerned stakeholders. Concepts such as disaster preparedness, preemptive evacuation and the state of calamity declaration have become commonplace and easily mouthed, without further need of explanation, and presuming that citizens realize their implications.
But, are these responses enough? Don’t we need to fast track our collective efforts, save many from premature deaths and strengthen the health of our ecosystems, which are also in grave peril by both humans and calamities through collaborative long-term planning and implementation?
Of the 56 provinces declared as “critical areas” by the onslaught of typhoon Ruby, I am tempted to ask how many have genuinely crafted a participatory Climate Change Action plan, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (“DRRM”) Plan and other plans required for the serious implementation of laws such as Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan, Clean Air Act and other laws. Guided by geo-hazard maps, have the communities themselves designated certain local areas as danger-prone, evacuation points and in dire need of rehabilitation?
The DRRM councils tasked as policy-making bodies to respond to disasters need to be evaluated if they are functioning properly. Note that at the barangay level, the barangay development councils (BDCs) are mandated to perform the functions of a DRRM committee. But BDCs’ inactivity is largely tolerated.
For how long?
Hopefully, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), as the national agency mandated to exercise the power of supervision over the local government unit, with the Secretary as alter ego of the President, as well as the supervising province, cities and municipalities, readily know the answer. They should.
If the answer is dismal, and there is a strange feeling that it still is, DILG and the supervising LGUs have to act to ensure that the plans are in place, DRRM bodies are functional and budget allocated judiciously. If not, they should not hesitate to exercise their responsibilities swiftly, irrespective of personalities involved.
Blinking in holding neglectful public officials accountable or looking the other way, in fear of political authorities or economic reprisal, is no longer tolerable.
The inconveniences caused by typhoons is nothing compared to the gross injustice and painful tragedies that are inflicted especially to the least prepared and those with the least resources. How many have died because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time?
But don’t get me wrong. Nature is farthest to be blamed.
The collective acts of humanity entrapped by fossil-fuel oriented economy and mindsets of ruthless exploitation and abuse for profit are the real culprits.
Decades back, scientists have implored policy-makers to heed their studies and commit to cut carbon emissions. We joined the community of nations in undertaking to do our share in reducing harmful substances that are causing grave imbalance to our climate system. We signed conventions and multi-lateral environmental agreements and adopted national laws. But, we fell short – awfully.
We did not deem it an affront to our national dignity and honor not to possess the strong sense of commitment to implement them and do justice to everyone, especially our most marginalized sectors – the poor, the elderly, those with disability, the women and the children.
The results of our inaction and recklessness are tangibly glaring. Extreme weather disturbances we are now experiencing are glimpses of the fiercer and frequent storms that our children and their children will not be spared from – unless each one of us will pledge and act to protect them – now.
We protect the children’s future by committing to restore the health of our already devastated ecosystems. As an illustration, when we protect marine habitats, and not destroying them through coastal developments such as reclamation, we are ensuring that food security is prioritized over profit-seeking short-term projects.
We protect their future by providing alternative livelihoods to the fisherfolk, the poorest of the poor, and our farmers, whose state of penury is even deteriorating, due to climate change. As our fishing grounds are over-fished, and our lands are becoming deserts, it is important to prioritize alternative means of living for them.
We protect their future by institutionalizing a culture of respect for our laws. By doing so, we are abolishing the appalling culture of corruption and impunity that is like a never-ending Hagupit to our disaster-challenged Philippines.
Are we willing to protect our children and their future?
Act now.
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