Palafox and future-proofed communities

I can’t seem to get enough of everything architect Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. has been telling us Filipinos – then and now – while we the people continue to discuss (relentlessly) the issues on flooding, not to mention the effects of climate change. We need to start focusing heavily and simultaneously on building resilient cities. Again, I must repeat that the President cannot do everything alone – he needs us and we need to help him get the right people to help build a better nation and shape better cities.

I’ve been friends with Architect Jun for a long while and have had the chance to interview him on the subject of resilient cities often and, as he has said before, the Philippines already had the answer to all our flooding problems since the 1970s. The world indeed is changing in so many unprecedented ways, which include changes in how we work, live, learn and adapt to the environment. Bold acts are indeed necessary (including bold acts in running after corrupt officials taking advantage of flood control projects that are meant for the people in their communities) when it comes to building  smart, inclusive and sustainable cities as, after all, we are talking about the quality of life for every Filipino.

We are expecting more rains in the weeks to come and we are not even remotely close to ending this discussion on flood control. It is very obvious, sad as it may be to say, that urban planning practices in the Philippines have somewhat excluded those in the lower income classes, causing social and even economic disparities.

Having said this, I must point out that Palafox has explained many times that it is so much better to address the 18 hazards (such as floods, typhoons, earthquakes, solid waste management, among others) before they become disasters, not to mention 90 percent less expensive (a problem for the corrupt). Aside from this, human lives are preserved, as well as real estate, infrastructure and agriculture.

Along these lines, Palafox, in an interview about two years ago, said that these issues could have been mitigated if not for the lack of proper implementation and worse, corruption. Two years till today, we continue to suffer the same fate – perhaps even much worse than we did in those last few years, which can surely be considered as disastrous in many respects. Considering that Palafox has been saying this even as recent as the last two years, he called for whistleblowers and truth tellers then,  which is probably why the President is now making this clear move to make sure that those who need to be held accountable are indeed being held accountable, considering that even as recent as two years ago – as Architect Jun explained in an interview – the President was aware.

Some say it is too late. I say it is never too late because it is now or never. Bold moves and decisive action are urgently needed not only to survive but to thrive as a nation. My grandfather Tomas Morato once built a man-made canal in Quezon province and while I had the opportunity to briefly see where this project was going, a project adopted by the national government then, it pains me to say that I no longer heard of it after it was left logged in one agency. Perhaps I just do not have the right information on this project.

Moving forward, however, and on the up side, most recently, President Marcos Jr. in his SONA revealed plans for Quezon province, including Tagkawayan – a plan that should have happened in 1986 that would definitely alleviate the lives of the people from Quezon province. Needless to say, the Philippines is in urgent need of proper planning and sustainable development – with the RIGHT people in charge.

“Pro Deo, patria et terra (For God, country and planet Earth),” as Architect Jun says. I fully agree. Sustainability, spirituality and nation building must be completely integrated if we really want to have better places to live, learn, work and thrive. Reactionary measures must be replaced by proactive actions and it is my prayer that in the next 1,000 days of this administration, we can witness a more impactful legacy, able to navigate through a more volatile world and, as Palafox says, future-proofed.