Church bells rang for 33 seconds across Bohol yesterday, marking a year since a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the province and other parts of the Visayas. The quake killed at least 200 people and injured about 800 others, and destroyed many of the centuries-old churches in the region.
The churches that were left intact rang their bells yesterday to remember the dead and give thanks for those who survived. Residents began picking up the pieces and rebuilding their lives even as they were rocked by thousands of aftershocks. In Bohol, residents say recovery is about 70 percent accomplished. But many of the churches can no longer be rebuilt, while rehabilitation of 20 municipal halls, barangay halls and public markets has yet to start.
The slow rehabilitation effort highlights the need to improve preparedness in a country that is prone to powerful earthquakes and other natural calamities. The national government announced the allocation of P2.6 billion for the rehabilitation effort only last June 6. Funds can be released only after local government units present specific plans or work programs for reconstruction. Local officials said yesterday that they needed expert designers and engineers and possibly a template for 1,066 projects in Bohol alone.
Complaints about slow reconstruction have also been aired in Zamboanga City, where large tracts were razed in three weeks of armed battles between government forces and rogue elements of the Moro National Liberation Front. Businessmen in the city said the slow reconstruction effort had driven away investments and dampened commercial activity in what is called the Queen City of the South.
As we are now seeing in Bohol, reconstruction takes more than preening for the cameras to announce the availability of funding. Drawing up viable reconstruction plans, with disaster resilience incorporated into the design, should have started a year ago. Instead there are still officials running around like headless chickens in the disaster zones. President Aquino must take to task those who are in charge of the reconstruction effort. Was anyone designated to be in charge?