Disaster Preparedness Demands Everyone’s
Cooperation
Kapihan forum on August 29, 2015
discussed the topic, “Aklan Disaster Preparedness and Program”. The guests at
NVC Carmen Hotel are Mr. Galo Ibardolaza, executive officer of PDRRMC and Mr.
Arjay Arguelles, Planning Officer I. PPDO.
Mr. Ibardolaza said that PDRRMC
is created by virtue of RA 10121. It mandates LGU’s to organize disaster risk
reduction and management council at barangay, municipal and provincial levels.
Disaster preparedness is implemented before, during and after a calamity such
as flash flood based on early warning system. We have strategic sensors
installed in bridges of Libacao and Madalag and Mobo, Kalibo to closely monitor
floodwater level. Usually, it takes between two hours and thirty minutes and
two hours and fifty minutes before rushing floodwaters strike population
centers of Kalibo and Numancia. The time lag allows enough time for people to
prepare and evacuate to safer ground or evacuation center.
It should be recalled that heavy
loss of lives and properties were recorded during super typhoon Frank with 52
deaths while with 14 deaths with Yolanda. The big difference is ample
preparation and timely response of volunteers. Kalibo MDRRMC has recently
acquired an electronic early warning system that can be programmed to alert
people living in flood prone areas. The locals are yet on familiarization stage
as to coded siren blasts.
There are four thematic risks
namely: a) disaster prevention (flood control dikes, reforestation, dredging),
b) disaster preparedness (calamity building and education, purchase of life
saving equipment, prepositioning of relief goods), c) disaster response
(distribution of food, medicine and clothing relief) and d) disaster recovery
(distribution of seeds, fertilizer, piglets to farmers) explained Ibardolaza.
Mr. Arguelles advised people
living in flood prone areas of Kalibo, Numancia, Lezo, Malinao, Madalag, Banga
and Libacao to consult official geohazard map prepared by Mines and Geosciences
Bureau. Last August 14, those towns engaged in community Aklan river clean up
drive that removed tons of debris and household trash. Result: surging flood
spawned by typhoon Ineng subsided after a few hours instead of 1-2 days. With
the success of civic action, many suggested, to conduct a quarterly operation,
Arguelles disclosed.
Johnny Dayang, Pres. PAPI
strongly recommended for more volunteers and training of local residents to
enhance disaster preparedness and response. He noted that the present set-up of
PDRRMC has inadequate funds to hire regular service personnel and purchase
vital rescue equipment.
Whoever thought that disaster
such as flash flood can be prevented by reforestation, dredging and building
concrete dikes must be kidding. Granted that tens of billions of pesos is spent
by the government on these projects, Mother Nature could be halted from
unleashing her fury when critical mass build-up is reached. Typhoon Frank on
June 21, 2008 dumped huge volume of water in Aklan for a 24 hour per-iod and
the result was catastrophic proportion not seen in living memory.
Hurricane Katrina is considered
one of the worse natural disasters that hit the US in recent history despite
its protective shield of hundreds of kilometers of concrete dikes, locking
system and pumping stations. Worse, the battered State of Louisiana was
submerged in filthy water for nearly 3 months and killed 21 people.
It should be recalled that STL
Panay Resources Ltd. proposed a dredging project on the Aklan river for
disaster mitigation and not prevention. Target was 15 million cubic meters of
gravel and sand priced at nominal P5.00 cost per cubic meter or P75 million
total.
The above development
projects must not be misconstrued as unnecessary bit in the context to actually
mitigate or reduce the impact of disaster. Here, prevention cannot be applied
on this case and defi nitely outside its
scope.
A rational strategy could be
taming floodwaters by constructing hydroelectric dams. (in Libacao and
Madalag), regulating and diverting water flow to irrigate crops, acquaculture
projects and tapping for domestic household uses. This has been proven
successful in the newly industrialized countries of China, India and Brazil.
It should be underscored that the
seven towns prone to flash floods are adjacent to each other and very
significant in terms of population size and area. Kalibo, the provincial
capital, is center of commerce, industry, and education. It is feared however
that with frequent overflow of Aklan river resulting damages to property,
investors may turn to other flood-free areas like Malay, Nabas, and Ibajay.
Disaster preparedness targets
zero casualty in human lives. The degree of efficiency therefore in rendering
services to victims can be based on how well target is achieved. Here, success
demands everyone’s cooperation. /MP
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