Typhoon Egay is still in northern Philippines. Out soon, according to weather reports.
It is not our first typhoon for 2023. It is also not only the typhoon that caused the following: cancelled trips, stranded passengers, flooded communities, unpassable roads, and so on.
This is also not the first time typhoons cancelled trips and flights.
Yet, how prepared are ports and terminals for unexpected cancellations and stranded passengers?
How prepared are passengers for unexpected cancellations and being stranded in ports and terminals?
Many interviewed stranded looked forward to attending a burial/a fiesta/a reunion after months/years of separation.
Many stranded did not anticipate any delay in their trip and so did not have spare money for water, food while waiting for their cancelled trips to be allowed to proceed.
Many did not expect to sleep in the terminals.
Seniors, children, infants slept on the floor, in hastily assembled make-shift “beds”- families, passengers making do with whatever was available for them to sleep on.
The same woes, the same gripes heard in ports and terminals. This is also not the first time that these repeated complaints have been voiced out.
After decades and more of typhoons and similar sudden trip cancellations, should not passengers and port/terminal management already be prepared for such emergencies?
Especially when typhoons have been reported and forecasted, passengers should also prepare for contingencies.
When trips are cancelled, passengers should prepare to have fall-back measures like: arrangements and resources to return home first until trips are resumed, or for those who are unable to return home, prepare extra money for food and water, prepare to sleep in the ports/terminals, have enough provisions especially for children, infants and PWDs.
Experience has shown that more stranded passengers are unable, do not have the means to return home and return to the terminals and ports when trips will be resumed.
Since this is not the first time that stranded passengers stay and crowd ports and terminals, should not the following management system be in place by now?
Safe, comfortable sleeping space provided, especially for the vulnerable passengers, for unexpected trip cancellation that may last overnight or more days and nights?
Free supply of safe drinking water and simple food/snacks provided to the needy passengers?
Running water supply and clean toilets?
Clear instructions from well-organized teams tasked to take care of various types of passengers and their needs?
Clear information desks/staff to assist passengers with urgent questions and issues?
A medical/police team ready to assist?
Perhaps free charging stations for cellphones and other devices?
Coordination with transportation companies for orderly resumption of trips?
Sure, trips cancellations due to typhoons and bad weather are unpredictable but the woes and problems of stranded passengers in ports and terminals are oh, from decades of similar experiences, so predictable and known.
Should not an effective, responsive management system for stranded passengers be in place already by now?
Ports and terminals can, should coordinate with private but more importantly, government agencies to cope, to effectively, systematically respond to the needs of stranded passengers.
Water and food can be provided by DSWD, the stranded passengers considered as a special community of typhoon-affected Filipinos, with special care for the PWDs, children, infants, pregnant/nursing mothers, seniors, others.
LGUs where the terminals/ports are located can provide temporary tents for comfortable sleeping arrangements.
The Department of Migrant Workers can also assist, especially the OFWs among the stranded.
Other government agencies can collaborate and assist where they best can.
Private transportation companies can also be called on to help provide food, water, other needs of their stranded passengers.
Every time a typhoon cancels trips, the same port/terminal scenarios and woes do not have to keep on repeating from now on.
Government/private coordinated, effective response management system is all that is needed, soonest.