Typhoons should have already taught us wisdom

Since the time of Lapu-Lapu, the Philippines has always been hit by typhoons, storms, and hurricanes. But for the last five centuries, the Filipinos have never learned to be wise. Nature's fury and human folly, put together, is the complete formula for disaster, devastation, and death. We cannot control nature after we destroy the environment but we can very well control human preparation for and the responses to calamities.

We already know that, of all the countries in the world, the Philippines is the most exposed to tropical storms. We are Asia's gateway to the Pacific. All strong winds from the east would hit us first before it goes to mainland Asia. The Philippines provides cover to Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and mainland China. The usual route of typhoons is from east to west then it would swerve to the north. That means from the Pacific Ocean, typhoons would have a landfall either in Eastern Luzon or Eastern Visayas. Thus our food baskets in these areas are always hit and our crops are devastated, thereby bringing so much damage to the economy and misery to the Filipinos. And this keeps on happening every year especially from July to December. But people never learn.

The 10 worst supertyphoons that hit our country include Haiphong in September 1881 causing more than 20,000 deaths. This was followed by Yolanda or Haiyan in 2013 causing at least 6,500 to 10,000 deaths while many others are still unaccounted for. In 1991, Uring or Thelma hit our country causing 5,100 to 8,000 deaths. In 2012, Pablo or Bopha caused the loss of 1,901 lives. In 1867, there was a typhoon named Angela that caused the death to 1,800 people. Winnie hit the country in 2004 causing the loss of 1,593 lives. An unnamed typhoon hit the country in October 1897 causing death to 1,500 Filipinos. Nitang hit us in 1984 when 1,426 died. Reming also caused the loss of 1,399 lives in 2006. And Frank hit the Philippines in 2008 where 1,371 people died.

The Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale of PAGASA says that a supertyphoon is one with sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour and 100 knots. A typhoon is one with sustained winds of 118 to 184 kilometers per hour and 64 to 99 knots. A severe tropical storm is one with 89 to 117 kilometers per hour and with 48 to 63 knots. A tropical storm is one with 62 to 88 kilometers per hour and 34 to 47 knots. And a tropical depression is one with 61 kilometers per hour and 33 knots. The government protocols mandate that all preparations and responses to all weather disturbances are coordinated by the NDRRMC or the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Each province and city has a counterpart. The Red Cross and other NGOs also help the DSWD in relief, rehabilitation, and assistance.

After too many major disasters and calamities, the Philippines should have learned by now and serious errors should have already been avoided. The architects and engineers should have designed our houses, buildings, and other infrastructures in such a way that they could withstand the strongest supertyphoons. After all that we have gone through across many centuries, scores, and decades, the government continues to build bridges that cannot withstand weather disturbances. The government keeps on issuing building permits that are not designed to make structures stronger and more resistant to strong winds. And people keep on building houses along shores and on the edges of creeks, lakes, and rivers. And our houses are always made of light and vulnerable materials. We seem to program ourselves to be victimized by the fury of strong winds and rains.

The tremendous damage brought by typhoon Egay has not yet been fully accounted for. But typhoon Falcon takes over and threatens to bring more devastation, damage, and deaths. We keep on repeating this routine of politicians running an incompetent government, getting credit for bringing relief and bags of assistance to people who became victims of the government's mediocre, even very poor responses to disasters and calamities. The people never learn and the government becomes more and more inept and incompetent. Politicians are useless. Only God can save the Philippines.