EDITORIAL - Preparedness works

As this was written, typhoon Pablo just made landfall in the eastern seaboard of Mindanao and was on its way across that island and on to some parts of the Visayas, including the southern part of Cebu.

Great preparations have been made by all those concerned to try and mitigate the effects of the storm. Disaster teams have quickly been convened and evacuation centers have been readied and prepared.

More importantly, sea and air travel have quickly been regulated or outrightly cancelled depending on the anticipated dangers these travels may encounter. Local officials quickly ordered the suspension of classes.

This is the kind of response we would like to see everytime there is a threat of a storm. In fact, to force the imposition of the parameters of preparation, we would like to see these officials assume their police powers in cases where their valid orders meet with resistance.

Inconveniences and material losses are very small prices to pay for the safety of human lives. We live in dangerous times brought on by climate change and the sooner our people learn to appreciate what this means and the real dangers they face, the better for all of us.

The signs of changing weather patterns are all around us to see. Educating people on what these changes mean are good for a clearer      understanding of the real risks involved each time bad weather threatens.

But even without education, most people already have enough common sense and conventional wisdom to realize that things are no longer what they used to be, so that hopefully they will see the wisdom of official orders and not wait for police action to force these orders.

Hopefully, with God’s mercy, we shall be spared the worst of what typhoon Pablo brings. But it is always wise and practical to also be prepared and rely on our own means to escape every danger that we face. Thank God, though, that officials are now very much on their toes.