What happened, happened
Tino, in his watery fury last November 4, dropped, as reported, up to a month’s worth of rain in just an hour that resulted in widespread flooding in the Metro Cebu area. With all the precautions and preparations, ghosts or actual projects in place, it is impossible to control flashfloods that cover rooftops in just minutes. This day will forever be recorded as one of Cebu’s most infamous dates.
From news outlets, graphic and heartbreaking scenes of devastation, the agony and misery of those affected were posted for all the world to see. With social media at its finest, these images and videos were instantly posted. Many things were said (and still are), mostly nasty, directed at officials who were missing from their locality when the calamity struck.
Damage was heavy at Talisay City and some parts of Cebu City. At Jubay and Cotcot, in the municipality of Liloan, as well as parts of Compostela and Danao City, many lives and property were lost thru the savagery Tino. We had a house and grew up in Jubay and I clearly remember that the area where the inundated subdivisions are used to be floodplains, areas nature made as rainwater catchments.
I empathize with the victims, and I can’t fault them for their anger, fear, frustration and blame for they had lost all, with some painfully losing members of their families.
For all their worth, emergency responders don’t have enough manpower to operate at the height of the flood. From accounts, some of them risked their lives to do what they’re trained to do. Even an untrained young men risked their lives to do life saving missions of their own armed with ropes and improvised floatation devices.
Like in the aftermath of the September earthquake in the northern part of Cebu, private entities and individuals mobilized to help victims, minus the “praise” releases and the requisite camera crews tagging along.
The heavy equipment and aid came from the Provincial government, yet it was colored with political intrigues made worse by broadcast and social media. Let’s cut the bullcrap already. It adds to the misery of the already suffering victims and promotes hate. Nothing positive will come out of this.
What happened, happened. So, who’s to blame? It is the structure and system of governance where the focus is partisan, myopic and often self-serving. Let’s join together with what’s needed to be done. When the dust had settled and all the mud cleared, by all means, resume with the mudslinging.
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