EDITORIAL - Under a state of calamity. Yehey!

Let it be said at the outset that this is not intended to poke fun at calamities or those who suffer from them. Calamities, whether man-made or brought about by nature, are always terrible, regardless of the scope and degree of their occurrence. Such is the common understanding of calamities that emergency relief and aid almost always come automatically from wherever and whoever at the first breaking of the news.

That aside, let it be said also that the Philippines is probably the only country in the world that has a different and interesting appreciation of calamities. For example, we are probably the only people in the world who can actually applaud calamities. And it is only in the Philippines where a place can actually be placed under a state of calamity even before a calamity happens, if it happens at all.

In the Philippines, placing an area under a state of calamity can mean a lot of things to many people. For government officials, a calamity declaration can allow them instant and almost unfettered access to funds that, under normal conditions, can take quite some time because the processes to be followed can get snagged in a lot of red tape.

This is precisely the reason why, in the province of Albay, where an eruption of the majestic Mayon Volcano is said to be imminent, officials have already declared a state of calamity ahead of the anticipated event, the logic being that if the volcano does erupt, the province will already be ready with the funds, and whatever else is needed to immediately respond. It is not clear, however, what happens if Mayon disappoints everyone.

But that is Albay's problem. Elsewhere, aside from the shortcuts to emergency government funds a state of calamity declaration can assure officials, a state of calamity is welcomed by ordinary citizens as well because it can open doors to emergency or calamity loans from pension funds even if those who seek to take out such loans still have outstanding loans with these lending agencies.

Moreover, it is not necessary for those who seek to avail of emergency or calamity loans to have actually suffered from the calamity. One can be unscathed and in the pink of health. It is enough for one to be a resident of the place that has been placed under a state of calamity. If he can get such a certification from his barangay, he can whistle his way to an emergency or calamity loan.

Of course the loan is not free. And if a borrower has an existing loan and goes ahead with an emergency or calamity loan just because he can get it, then he is in for a little calamity of his own when it comes paying time. But then again, paying time has never been known to faze and deter Filipinos who seem to be ever on the lookout for quick money. If money is to be made out of calamities, the Filipino will go get it. Last Thursday, Cebu City was placed under a state of calamity. Yehey.