The stench of grief is a familiar smell to a country perpetually pillaged by disasters. The Philippines, unfortunately, is one country who’s all too intimate with the terrible smell of death. As one of the high-risk countries in the world for experiencing disasters, news of Mother Nature’s wrath is as familiar as a cup of coffee in the morning. Natural disasters can vary from typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions to earthquakes. All are as equally dreadful.
Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines has a number of permanent residents that intermittently threaten their immediate vicinity. Active volcanoes are present in all three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. As a matter of fact, the surrounding areas of the summits have been listed by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology as PDZ or permanent danger zone. Famous tourist attractions that they are, Mayon Volcano, Bulusan, and the entire volcanic island of Taal are all PDZ.
Added to the looming and, hopefully not, the perpetual threat is the arrival of the infamous The Big One referring to the projected 7.2 magnitude earthquake that could hit if the West Valley Fault moves. The 100-kilometer fault running through six cities in Metro Manila and nearby provinces is due to move as its last recorded earthquake was in 1658. That was 361 years ago. With an interval of 400 to 500 years, the major earthquake may, perhaps, happen within our lifetime. The projected destruction of 117, 000 residential houses and death of 34,000 lives is horrendous.
Years have passed since communities were ravaged by disasters leaving behind a trail of death, waste, and destruction. It’s time to relearn and rebuild the country’s disaster resiliency. As one of the most, disaster-exposed countries in the world, the Philippines needs to have a department dedicated solely on disaster preparedness and response. The NDRRMC or National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, parented by the national defense, is embroiled with bureaucratic issues. The resources, effort, and will of the coordinating council is drained by this political cloud. Mayhaps, the country should start re-assessing its priority: saving lives over turf war. Disaster preparedness and response should not be a political minefield.
Take a cue from past disasters which claimed the lives of thousands. Safety, above everything, should be the top priority of a country continually besieged by disasters. Bank on people’s safety by strengthening the community’s disaster resilience. A country that can adapt and recover from the shock and hazard brought by disaster without compromising its long-term developmental goals is the very definition of a resilient community. Proper education and application through disaster preparedness are the keys to safety in any disaster.
One who is definitely taking cues from the horrible disasters of the past is the pride of Mapua University’s R&D: USHER or Universal Structural Health Evaluation and Recording System. The USHER system is a complete solution-based partnership of an ERi (Earthquake recording instrument) and a portable web portal which aims to monitor a structure’s integrity. Beyond monitoring, USHER doesn’t wait for an earthquake to happen before it could work. USHER monitors, inspects, analyzes, and determines the safety and integrity of a certain structure before and after an earthquake. This is possible by looking at the differences using statistical pattern analysis. USHER aims to arm itself with valuable and potentially life-saving facts. Knowing the facts of a structure is creating awareness and awareness begets preparedness. Why wait for a disaster to happen before you can move? USHER urges you to move, act now, and save lives! Banking on disaster resiliency and people’s safety is USHER’s prime concern.
It begins with concern and continues with change. With a positive step to change, NDRRMC’s National Disaster Resilience Month’s theme “4Ks: Kamalayan sa Kahandaan, Katumbas ay Kaligtasan” coincides with resiliency strengthening. Reducing the risk of future disaster lies in “Kamalayan” or awareness. Communities within the country should now start taking concrete steps in building resiliency. Begin with a double and triple check. Should there be infrastructure reconstruction? Is it time to check the structure’s integrity and use a recording instrument like USHER? Should the relocation of displaced citizens begin? What steps should the government take in convincing and properly educating the people? How should food aid be funneled and distributed properly? What is the initial and immediate response of the local government unit once a disaster strikes their area? How and when should the national government send aid and provide a long-term response? Is the current food aid enough for the imminent and future disasters? How is healthcare preparation in evacuation areas and residences? How prepared is the government for any health outbreak during and after a disaster? How will the local community rise and what role should the national government take?
Too many questions indeed but questions worth asking in the preparation for any disaster and strengthening the communities’ resilience. Citizens can’t prepare alone but they can’t afford not to prepare either. The government can’t leave the preparations in the hands of its citizen and yet, they can’t do it alone either. Disaster resiliency is a community effort. Preparations may be tailor-made to a locality but national aid and preparedness can do wonders, save lives, and reduce disaster damages. Let this country leave the bureaucratic bullfight in ruins rather than the precious homes and lives of its citizens.