What the rush was all about

I was one of the many who got stuck in the traffic jam along the Cebu North Road on the way to Bogo City over the weekend. The slowdown started in the town of Liloan and crawled all the way to our destination. It was very unusual, as we have been treading the same route since the first day of the aftermath, but the scenario was never like this. A quick look at those heading in the same direction showed that many were bringing only few items for relief: a box or two of water, less than 10 family food packs. There were even more people inside the vehicles than there were goods.

That was a clear sign of the people’s mistrust in the government and the system it supposedly has for disaster response. It could be an offshoot of the ongoing calls to stop corruption and a reaction to the pleas circulating online. I can confirm that by the second day, many residents in the earthquake-stricken areas were already holding up placards asking for food and water. It was also confirmed that, at that time, their local government officials were still reeling from the death toll and the impact on their own homes as well. The relief goods were distributed shortly after but not to everyone in the city.

It is true that we cannot blame the many who embarked on the journey to rush to the north immediately. Photos of the disaster spoke to them so deeply that they couldn’t delay reaching the area. There was an urge to help, to give back --just as when the north stood in support when the south was battered by Odette. However, the rush delayed everyone by hours, denying the victims the help that could have arrived sooner. I was told we shouldn’t blame the public for their response, but I know there are many who should be called out.

One group includes individuals who went to ground zero for the sake of clout. Among those I saw who were genuine in their desire to give aid were also those who stood near the victims for posterity. They used the situation to their advantage, wanting to look like heroes. Second, there were individuals who couldn’t follow basic traffic rules and felt the need to counterflow. They clogged the highway and risked the safety of many others, and not to mention there were already road accidents last weekend.

While I acknowledge the frustration of the public toward the government, I still believe in the power of collective action. There is always more impact when we do things together instead of moving alone. We can always team up, consolidate what we have, and go together. In this way, we can maximize our resources while decongesting the number of vehicles on the highway. I believe it has always been that way, perhaps we can do it again this time. The people of the north are extremely grateful for the help they have received. Maybe it’s time to straighten out the process.