What lessons have we learned?

We are within the Pacific Ring of Fire, this we know.

So earthquakes, volcanic eruptions are not new to us, yes.

So much DRRM budget, education, and preparation have been conducted throughout the country, we have been told, yes.

However, were these enough to prepare our people for the recent round of earthquakes, eruptions and typhoons?

You be the judge. What do you think?

This is the first time, though, we are witnessing and experiencing simultaneous quakes, eruptions and typhoons.

No matter how much past DRRM preparation has been done, nothing really prepared us all for the calamities and disasters to hit various places within and outside the Philippines SIMULATANEOUSLY!

Before the Cebu quakes affected various cities, municipalities especially in the North, we remember typhoons that came one after another or almost at the same time in Northern Luzon.

Recently, however, we are witnessing simultaneous quakes in Cebu, in the Visayas, in Luzon, in Mindanao and other parts of the world as well!

Then, there was a typhoon as well.

Then the Mt. Kanlaon eruption.

And more continuing strong aftershocks in already previous strong quake-affected areas!

One precious lesson.

Local, regional, national and international UPDATED, REORIENTED DRRM education, training, preparation, funds, responses are urgently needed to cope with simultaneous natural events, calamities and disasters affecting people, communities, structures, properties, resources.

Wider SIMULTANEOUS COORDINATION among local, regional, national, international private and public responders is now called for.

Another inspiring lesson.

The heartwarming bright light in the midst of destructive calamities is the ever-present BOTTOMLESS WELL OF LOVE AND CONCERN from countless individuals and groups and from all over, for the affected.

To facilitate faster, more effective, more far-reaching response network of support and assistance, one lesson learned is to COLLECTIVELY plan, decide and implement a MORE COORDINATED SYSTEM of data collection, resource/assistance sharing, transport, distribution, monitoring, evaluation of private and public, local, national, global DRRM initiatives.

Another lesson to guide future response.

So many in need, so many were eager to help and reach out. Heavy traffic could have been avoided, faster response and assistance for victims facilitated had there been a prior template for regulating, coordinating multilevel, multisectoral DRRM response and initiatives.

A must from now on as well.

COMMUNITY DATA should already be available showing population number, profile, location to ensure no one is left behind, that all are accounted for and responded to SOONEST and EFFECTIVELY after every calamity.

DRRM initiatives should also prepare for immediate-short-medium-long term-TIME-AREA-BASED responses for all residents of various types of communities – farms, forest, coastal, urban, towns.

One glaring reality was the lack of defined, designated and well-equipped EVACUATION AREAS for different types of community residents.

And URGENT/APPROPRIATE ITEMS/FACILITIES (RED CROSS TENTS) to ensure the immediate-long-term safety, protection and welfare of all affected residents and communities.

“We need food, water, safe places to sleep and stay in” immediately after and while the calamities continue.

EMERGENCY/HEALTH NEEDS require immediate attention, medical providers/practitioners, facilities, especially STEADY ELECTRIC/WATER supply!

Please mainstream proper/dedicated DISASTER WASTE SEGREGATION/ MANAGEMENT!

A very important lesson – COMMUNICATION is INDISPENSABLE.

From here on, every community, LGU, resident should be part of a communication network to ensure that everyone is accounted for during calamities and everyone’s immediate, urgent need responded to.

Within communities, residents should have a communication system, a communication brigade or tree where Person number 1 contacts Person number 2 and so on and the last person on the list contacts Person number 1 to confirm that everyone included in the communication network responded and their needs communicated to each other.

The community communication network should link to the LGUs in towns/cities and provinces.

Informal/personal communication networks are just as vital as working communication devices and facilities please.

GENDER/AGE/DISABILITY-specific responses should also be mainstreamed so the appropriate assistance is extended to the victims.