EDITORIAL - Preparing for the floods

Traffic once again crawled in several parts of Metro Manila the other day as heavy rains poured, induced by a low-pressure area. The downpour brought relief to people who have sweltered through what weather experts said was the country’s hottest summer in a decade. But the rains also triggered flash floods, reminding the nation that less than a year ago, cataclysmic flooding claimed lives, destroyed property and caused health problems in many parts of Luzon.

Election fever soon overshadowed the trauma from the massive flooding spawned by storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng. In the short period before election fever intensified, the government managed to evict many of the squatters straddling the vital waterways where floodwaters drain into Manila Bay. The government also obtained additional boats for use in rescue efforts during torrential flooding.

But the government admitted that relocation of families evicted from danger zones was limited by budget constraints. Groups involved in dredging and cleaning up the Pasig River have also complained that garbage is again being dumped into the river in certain areas such as Manila. Waterways and drainage systems clogged by garbage are among the biggest causes of serious flooding, apart from decades of encroachment into the Laguna de Bay floodplain.

After Ondoy and Pepeng, government executives have presumably learned their lessons and will be better prepared to deal with a similar problem in the approaching typhoon season. Flooding in the lakeside communities around Laguna de Bay will need a long-term response and a massive infusion of funds. But local governments can prepare effective warning systems and improve their resources for evacuating residents and providing relief to flood victims. Public health personnel can be better prepared to deal with the problems spawned by floods that take many weeks to subside, including dengue, acute diarrhea, respiratory illnesses and even athlete’s foot. Elsewhere in Luzon, dam operators by now should have improved their coordination with local governments in alerting residents about the release of water.

The nation suffered through Ondoy and Pepeng and should remember the lessons well. There is no reason to be unprepared for a repeat of the natural disasters.