Half mast and black ribbons

When I first wrote the topic title above, I meant to use it for a political commentary on the nation’s internal political conflict and confusion.

I meant to ask if we should really be flying our flag proudly because of our imagined “Independence” or at half-mast because of our failed version of democracy and the loss of independence of the three branches of government now controlled by the executive branch.

Sadly, the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake down in Sarangani province where the death toll already reached 45 persons and counting now calls for flags at half-mast and black ribbons.

There is never a right time or better time for calamities and disasters to hit, but I wonder how much help will our kababayans be able to donate or give to the affected victims at a time when unemployment, stagflation and distrust in government is at its highest?

Apparently, once again the first to respond are churches and NGOs. Our church, Victory Christian Fellowship in General Santos City, has called on members to reach out to affected families or to volunteer in gathering relief goods even if their area was also affected.

While all of that was happening, I picked up from news sources that the big challenge is restoring power to the affected areas. In this day and age of highly portable and powerful solar power kits, you would think the government would have already stepped up beyond relief goods and tents.

To begin with, why can’t Congress pass a law requiring a nationwide adoption of solar streetlights that don’t depend on power grids and power companies? Why should local and national offices keep paying for electricity that will fail after a major earthquake?

With power banks so cheap and available, can’t the government put together solar powered survival kits composed of solar lights, fans, power banks and portable water filters?

You can even buy “all-in-one” solar gadgets that also include a radio. Simply log down who was issued what, before or during the disaster.

If we can budget for defense spending to “modernize” military capabilities, regularly fund the travels of the First Couple, why can’t we budget for equipment designed for our annual calamities or design every barangay to be disaster proof and sufficient in emergency requirements?

PBBM should seriously consider the fact that we are not even in the typhoon season. Things can get worse, and Filipinos will be less forgiving if they are hit hard and government fails to protect and provide for them.

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When an earthquake hit Bangkok and Myanmar last year, authorities circled in on structural problems, particularly sub-standard steel. Those involved or responsible, both locals and foreigners, were immediately arrested and investigated, pointing towards criminal negligence.

When a nine-story building under construction collapsed in Angeles City early this month, the government response was on “slow extended play,” recovering bodies but nothing about how or why the building collapsed. The suspicion is sub-standard steel.

While China and ASEAN bodies call for the removal and ban of induction furnaces because of the pollution and sub-standard steel these produce, I heard that there are somewhere between 30 to 40 such furnaces being used all over the Philippines.

Given the history and threat, how difficult is it to track down these induction furnaces that may have already produced enough steel to cause a domino type of building collapse when a major earthquake hits?

All the government needs to do is declare a ban, tell all PNP provincial directors to raid the factories using them and immediately destroy those furnaces on site. The question is, does the Marcos government really care?

Do we need to wait until thousands upon thousands die from building collapse because of substandard steel just like in China?

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While Filipinos focus on politics and stagflation, hardly anybody seems to make an issue of food inflation. A month ago, I posted on Facebook how shocked I was to pay P250 for a kilo of calamansi.

During the same week, I paid about P160 for a medium-sized papaya and the same price for a bunch of bananas. People were equally shocked because most people don’t really look at sticker prices unless they are on a tight budget or when they have to choose between two products.

In my case, I was shocked because I pick the same products for free in our backyard farm in Lipa, Batangas. Just yesterday, I brought in three different sizes of papaya based on variety. The calamansi trees were all full of fruits for the picking and several banana trees also have fruit that will soon be quite ripe.

Imagine what would happen if the government, the Bureau of Plant Industry or LGUs all got involved in a genuine food production program in every home. The collective effort would surely affect the food prices nationwide once we eliminate the transport and middlemen that cause most of the inflation.

It is not rocket science to plant talong, pechay, bananas, kamote, etc. What is needed is vision and political will to develop the program and see it through. At the very least, the Marcos Jr. administration should do everything it can to lead the nation in food production towards food security.

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