EDITORIAL – A long way from zero casualty

As of late yesterday afternoon, the death toll from Typhoon Lando had soared to 58, with many of the victims buried in landslides or swept away by floods. Several cities and towns, with many barangays still flooded up to rooftops, were under a state of calamity. Kennon Road leading to Baguio City remained closed.

President Aquino has learned not to announce publicly that he wants zero casualties during typhoons. But Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Sarmiento showed his displeasure by sacking the provincial police director of Benguet, for failure to evacuate residents from high-risk areas.

The Philippine National Police does play a key role in carrying out evacuations during natural calamities. The other day, Palace officials had lamented that people in danger zones had refused to leave their homes despite repeated warnings from weather forecasters about the risks posed by heavy and incessant rains from Typhoon Lando.

Blame for the failure to evacuate, however, must be shared by the persons who should be directly supervising such activities: local government officials, starting with barangay personnel. The police and occasionally the military and militias provide the muscle for forced evacuation. But cops and soldiers, wary of facing complaints for human rights violation, typically wait for an order from civilian authorities before forcing anyone to leave their homes.

Instead of blaming residents for refusing to evacuate, the government should find out why people would rather risk their lives than temporarily abandon their homes. One reason is the high risk of burglary and looting. People also wish to be around to salvage their belongings in case disaster strikes. Another reason is the poor state of evacuation centers, where almost everything is inadequate: space, proper ventilation, sanitation and toilet facilities, water. The evacuation centers are so cramped diseases spread rapidly, with children among the most vulnerable.

Filipinos are no strangers to typhoons, floods and landslides, and understand their options when weather disturbances approach. If they choose to risk their lives by staying put at home in danger zones, the government must understand the reasons and address the roots of the refusal. Evacuation protocols must also be developed and fully explained to communities so that when a natural calamity approaches, affected residents will be more cooperative in saving their own lives and property.