Noynoy gov’t ill-prepared for disasters, says report

AQUINO HIT FOR UNWARRANTED BACKSLAPPING

President Aquino’s backslapping on government officials for doing their job in preparation for super typhoon “Juan” received criticism from an Asian security risk intelligence firm, saying that it was unwarranted since there is no significant headway in government efforts to soften the impact on the country of frequent natural calamities.

Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA) noted in its latest report a “gaping disconnect between what is being proclaimed by politicians and bureaucrats as progress and ground truth realism.”

“The reality remains that, despite the government pretentiousness, the country remains ill-prepared and ill-equipped to deal with the majority of disaster or crisis situations,” the report added.

It noted that recently, a visiting official of the World Health Organization (WHO) applauded the Philippines for its progress in disaster preparedness. The official was quoted as saying that the country has learned its lesson (presumably from last year’s typhoon season) and that “if you compare it to countries in the same level, the Philippines is actually the leader in term of preparedness.”

This was after President Aquino issued a statement in the wake of powerful typhoon Juan ravaging the northern part of the country that said “I am very happy to report to the public that everyone has delivered. The thorough

preparations of all concerned agencies are in marked contrast to the official helplessness of the past, and at present, we haven’t had to ask the public to contribute outside resources.”

PSA stated that despite the relatively benign outcome of typhoon Juan, Aquino and the WHO official’s statements were “terribly misleading.”

“In fact, there is absolutely no logical explanation or justification for the misplaced and politically correct WHO accolade or the president’s unwarranted backslapping,” PSA said.

PSA cited a source close to the relief and rescue effort during typhoon Juan who indicated that since many cellular towers were toppled during the storm all official government or emergency communication between the seat of government in Manila and Northern Luzon, where the typhoon struck hardest, this was cut off and local responders were forced to fend entirely for themselves.

“While Juan was accurately forecast, both the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) have limited capabilities to issue on-time and accurate early disaster warnings and are largely underequipped and understaffed due to drastic funding constraints.”

This will always be more evident when disaster conditions develop more rapidly than typhoon Juan, it added.

The heavy toll from a natural calamity striking the country was typified by the number of deaths from the ongoing floods in Cagayan Valley which had risen to 12 yesterday.

Crop damage from the heavy rains and flooding in Cagayan Valley has been estimated to have reached P400 million with around P193 million reported in Isabela and approximately P200 million in Cagayan.

Thousands were still sheltered in evacuation centers after flooding and landslides over the past four days sent thousands fleeing their homes, with over 19,500 people still in government evacuation centres even after the floods receded, the civil defence office said in a statement.

Most of the dead were killed by landslides or drowned in flash floods triggered by the heavy rains pouring on the mountainous region, the office said.

Three others remain missing after landslides hit their homes. Several roads and bridges were rendered impassable by floods and landslides.

Another two persons earlier reported to have been covered by mudflow in Peñablanca town in Cagayan province were finally named as Victor Quiang, 40, and his 26-year-old son Jovit. The body of the younger Quiang is still missing.

Earlier, a 77-year-old woman from Tuguegarao City was swept away by strong current while going to visit neighbors in her village at the height of the rains while five persons, namely a family of four and a 9-year-old boy were buried alive in Isabela’s San Mariano town.

The lone fatality from Kalinga, which is in the central Cordillera, has yet to be identified.

PSA, in its report, cited a World Bank Post Disaster Needs Assessment following back-to-back super typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng last year that preventing disaster impacts in the future requires significant attention to land use planning, housing, water management, and environmental protection.

It noted, however, that “any credible and impartial assessment would support the fact that there has been no observable or significant headway in any of these areas.”

It conceded that since the twin typhoons last year, there have been some modest legislative window dressing improvement in disaster management.

The paper cited Republic Act 9729 on climate change that was passed into law last October and Senate bill 2086 on disaster risk reduction that was enacted just last May.

It also cited the government’s drawing up a National Framework Strategy on Climate Change “in an effort to secure international funding to help the country cope with impacts of climate change including natural disasters and the publication of an online geo-hazard map which identified some of the country’s hazard zones.

It nevertheless said that despite international technical assistance programs that have gained considerable momentum over the course of the last several years, “there is still a blatant lack of government resources and coordination between national and local disaster management authorities to properly exploit international assistance.”

The report said the capital Metro Manila remains most vulnerable to natural disasters.

“Considering the National Capital Region (NCR) is the only true metropolitan region in the Philippines and generates one-third of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), any disaster event that strikes directly at the capital would still have a devastating social and economic impact on the country,” it stated.

It, however, added that “few if any objective experts or knowledgeable observers believe the Philippine government is capable of handling or mitigating any major disaster that impacts th NCR.”

“This is simply no time for accolades or backslapping,” the report said.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also said due to heavy rains, a total of seven road sections in Cagayan Valley Region is now closed to traffic due to floods and landslide.

According to DPWH Bureau of Maintenance division, among the impassable road networks in Region II are the Divisoria Bridge along Cagayan Valley Road , Maguilling Overflow Bridge, Tuao-Orga Bridge and Sarabay Bridge along Cagayan-Apayao Road and Penge-Ruyu Section of Tuguegarao Diversion Road all in Cagayan.

In the province of Isabela, the flood-affected roads are the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Overflow Bridge along Cabagan-Sta. Maria Road, Rang-Ayan Section along Ilagan-Bigao-Palanan Road, Kilometer 445 and 449 along Daang Maharlika Highway and Abbut-Quezon Section along Santiago-Tuguegarao Road.

Meanwhile in Cordillera Region, the Conner-Cabugao Road, Abbut Conner Road and Claveria —Calanasan Road in Apayao I still not passable due to landslide. In Kalinga, the Balbalan-Pinukpok Road , Lubuagan-Batong Buhay-Abra Road and Calanan-Abbut Road is also not passable including the Kilometer 403 of Mt. Province-Cagayan via Tabuk Enrile Road. This road sections are not passable since it was affected by landslide due to typhoon Juan.

In Central Luzon, the Kilometer 181 along Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road, Brgy. Dianed Section, Dinadiawan Section, Brgy. Simbahan Section, Brgy. along Baler Casiguran Road is also not passable due to flooded river and landslide.

The DPWH regional and district engineering office maintenance crew and equipment are now deployed in the affected road areas to monitor and conduct emergency repair works as soon as floodwater subsides. Warning signs are already installed on both ends of the affected road section to inform the passing motorists. Gina Peralta, Mina Diaz, AFP