Beyond Typhoon Bopha

This Wednesday morning, the sun is out where we are, praise the Lord! We pray that it is too where you are!

Gratefully, even as early as Tuesday evening, prayers and expressions of thanksgiving and relief have been noted, especially in social media.

Former UP Cebu student and now eco-steward Armando Gaviola from Leyte, for example, shared this happy note: “Salamat sa Ginoo nga aduna kita’y starry starry night after the typhoon PABLO, hopefully pagbali sa hangin, wala na as in wa na jud........ GOD bless us all guys. makatulog na ko ani nga hinanok.”

Students in Cebu rejoiced and must still be enjoying their sleep and rest Wednesday, with classes suspended for one more precious day!

Employees had to report for work but with Typhoon Bopha (Cambodian term for flower or a girl) out of the Philippines, being out in the sun, after a typhoon, surely will be like a walk in the park for many.

“Sun, sun, sun, here it comes,” friend Catherine Ruiz posted early Wednesday morning while probably singing this popular song by the Beatles!

Photo-journalist and cousin Froilan Gallardo reported that “Pablo was not that mean to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.” He also expressed “thanks to disaster preparedness consciousness of residents, super typhoon Pablo became a “Pablito.”

We join him and all other Filipinos applaud all Filipinos who joined in alerting all to prepare adequately for this 16th typhoon to hit our country.

In this modern age of advanced technology and communication, there is no excuse for unpreparedness or for inadequate alert systems. Early alert systems can best prepare everyone, especially the needy with houses built with weak materials and those near endangered areas.

With so much prior local and global experience of disasters, this time around, authorities should be more knowledgeable and prepared to more effectively manage disasters. With climate change, disaster education and preparedness as well as effective disaster resiliency measures should already be in place.

Compared to thousands lost to disasters in the past, the number of deaths reported, so far, is lower at 74 for now but the number may increase. Before officials start congratulating themselves for less casualty or damage report, it may be good to remind all that even just 1 death due to disasters should still be avoided at all costs.

Hence, more disaster resiliency management exercises, drills, and networks need to be mobilized and installed so that future disasters will see more, if not all, safe and protected.

Inspections and stricter application of the law versus harmful mining, deforestation, and infrastructure activities should be regularly and seriously implemented. Monitoring and research should be done to check if deaths are related to intensive mining, deforestation, or construction projects that put neighboring residents and communities at high risk.

So much to do still to avoid any further damage or death among our people, especially in the poorer regions and areas of our country.

Tuesday, another typhoon. Wednesday, the sun.

As we bask in thankfulness for blessed sunny and safe days in general and in particular, for having been protected against Typhoon Bopha, let us continue to do our share to learn more about how to be more disaster prepared and resilient personally and as a whole nation.

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