THE TRAGEDIES OF BAGUIO, BENGUET
The recent natural hazards such as Typhoon Maring that hit Baguio and Benguet have once again brought at the forefront a neglected but should be an integral part of our lives – preparedness and awareness in times of catastrophe.
The destruction on lives, properties, and infrastructures caused by the recent storms is a testament that 11 years after the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act was passed, the public has not imbibed in their consciousness the mentality of preparedness and adaptability despite the fact that we now live in precarious times, where extreme weather distubances and even outbreaks of diseases commonly occur.
The PDRRM Act of 2010 or Republic Act 10121 was passed with the intent of strengthening the country’s disaster risk reduction and management system through adoption of a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework and a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan. The law also aims to strengthen the capacity of all local government units and stakeholders to build disaster-resilient communities, and to institutionalize measures for reducing disaster risks, including projected climate risks, and enhancing disaster preparedness and response capabilities at all levels.
The aftermath of Typhoon Maring has shown that we are nowhere near the law’s aim – that there should be minimal, if not zero deaths, and minimal damage to public and private infrastructure.
We are aware that no individual and no government is 100 percent prepared for any eventuality but judging from the recent natural disasters that occurred in other parts of the country, the response to disasters have all been reactive – never proactive.
We are stuck in the conduct of preparedness drills, in the release of assistance funds, and receipt of donations. Sadly, lives, properties, and public funds are sacrificed in the process. We are caught in a cycle.
Available data would show that Baguio and Benguet usually have the highest rainfall anywhere else in the country and, geographically, are located in a hazardous area. For instance, Typhoon Maring has dumped 625.3 millimeters of rainfall within 24 hours from Oct. 11 to 12, surpassing Typhoon Ompong’s 535mm in 2018.
These data should have been used in polishing zoning and land use plans, as well as disaster response plans. We wonder how many LGUs have incorporated in their land use and zoning plans the geohazard maps provided them by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
Hearing about people buried alive due to soil erosion, seeing a building collapse when the lot it was standing on caved in, crops getting submerged in flood, and a community in distress due to flashfloods, is heartbreaking, especially when some of these events could have been prevented.
As with other disasters, the poor is the most affected by these occurrences. The vulnerable ones are always the first ones to bear the brunt of calamities. Hence, help for them should be more than relief goods and cash aid.
In the process of rebuilding, funds that could have been spent on equally important matters are diverted to immediately respond to those affected by a disaster. The impact is far reaching but it is not too late. There is a lot more that can be done so we could head to a better direction.
The government and other stakeholders who are in charge of policies and individuals should all have a share in averting or minimizing the effects of calamities.
Policies should not remain as policies.
We call on the Office of the Civil Defense, through the Regional Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council, to take a more active role in disaster response and mitigation by expanding its functions, not just rendering technical assistance to LGUs but to call on stakeholders for an assessment of policies of the LGUs, to ensure that these are constantly updated and responsive not only to the present but in the future.
Each and everyone should also do their share by changing their mindset. As the “new normal” is now a commonly used phrase, we should be aware by now that extreme weather conditions are also a new normal. We cannot turn back the hands of time, but in our communities, work places, and our homes, we can help avert disasters by also having a proactive approach.
It has been 11 years since RA 10121 has been passed. It should not take another 11 years for us to realize that risk reduction and mitigation could save many lives and properties.