TECHNOLOGY TO MANAGE RISKS
MANILA,
OCTOBER 8,
2011 (STAR) By Evelyn Macairan (PHOTO - Residents ride
rafts on a flooded street in Barangay Corazon, Calumpit, Bulacan yesterday. A
raft ride costs P30 per person. JOVEN
CAGANDE)
The Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday that the continuous
flooding in areas recently affected by typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel" is causing
the proliferation of typhoon-related diseases such as leptospirosis and
pulmonary infections.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC) has placed the combined death toll from the two typhoons at 90, with 78
people injured, mostly in the northern parts of Luzon.
Health Secretary Enrique Ona said that for the past six days, the DOH has
recorded five suspected leptospirosis cases and 3,600 respiratory diseases in
Bulacan and has also monitored about 600 cases of diarrhea, aside from rising
incidence of skin diseases among evacuees.
Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said government health authorities are
now verifying reports of one fatality due to leptospirosis from Central Luzon.
Ona advised residents from flood-affected areas to watch out for signs and
symptoms of leptospirosis and to seek immediate medical treatment.
From January to Sept. 24, the DOH has recorded 2,601 cases of leptospirosis
nationwide, almost 200 percent higher compared to the same period last year.
"The rains are not yet over and many areas are still flooded because of the
recent typhoons so we are reiterating our advice for people, especially those
who have open wounds and exposed to floods, to go to the nearest hospital for
checkup," Ona said.
To avoid further spread of leptospirosis, the DOH is now giving out free
antibiotics as a preventive treatment among flood-affected residents in Central
Luzon.
The DOH has already deployed 54 medical teams from different government
hospitals to render medical treatment and assess the condition in the evacuation
centers in Bulacan and Pampanga.
Health authorities admitted that incidence of leptospirosis and other
typhoon-related diseases could still surge in Central Luzon until the flood has
fully subsided.
Ona said the DOH regional office in Central Luzon already provided water
disinfectants in areas without potable water supply.
"We are also mobilizing nurses for vaccination and conducting health
education activities," he said, giving assurance that the government is on top
of the situation and that the DOH is exerting all efforts to help those affected
by the typhoons.
According to Ona, the two typhoons damaged 43 government health facilities
amounting to P232 million, aside from destroying P65-million worth of medical
equipment.
Of the 43 medical facilities, Ona said, two district hospitals in Calumpit
and Hagonoy have closed down after being submerged in floods for a week.
As this developed, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has released
over P31 million for emergency employment of residents in five typhoon-affected
regions.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the fund would be used to pay for the
salaries of workers to be employed to do rehabilitation work, specifically the
clearing, cleaning, and de-clogging of drainage and other small infrastructure
in typhoon-affected communities.
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, on the other hand, said government
social workers have started conducting critical stress debriefing for the
victims of the two typhoons.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) is a process that prevents or
limits the development of post-traumatic stress in people exposed to critical
incidents, Soliman said.
The DSWD also reported that it has provided P6.73 million for the victims of
typhoon Quiel, and prepositioned some P16.49 million in standby funds and P22.12
million in relief supplies to Regions 1, 2, 3 and Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR).
As of 6 a.m. yesterday, Soliman said a total of 125 evacuation centers remain
open, serving 8,906 families affected by typhoon Quiel, while the agency also
continues to provide assistance to 30,467 families outside the evacuation
centers.
But the government is not alone in its effort to reach out to victims of
flooding.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church and civic groups in the province of Nueva
Ecija have joined in the relief effort.
In Pampanga, Gov. Lilia Pineda met with representatives from the
International Organization for Migration (IOM), World Food Program (WFP),
MERLIN, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Fund for Population
Activities (UNFPA) and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) the other
day.
Pineda informed the foreign representatives that six Pampanga towns, namely
Candaba, San Luis, Macabebe, Masantol, San Simon, and Apalit, have remained
flooded and are usually flooding during the rainy season. At least 47,000
families are affected in these areas.
Damage surpasses P10-billion mark
The amount of property damaged by typhoon Pedring has ballooned to P12.34
billion yesterday, surpassing the P10.9 billion sustained during the height of
tropical storm "Ondoy" in 2009.
NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said the typhoon destroyed P10.83
billion in crops, livestock and fisheries and P1.51 billion in infrastructure.
Central Luzon sustained the largest amount of property damage at P9.836
billion.
Property damage in Metro Manila hit P124.35 million while that of Ilocos and
Cagayan Valley reached P20.46 million and P421.76 million, respectively.
Earlier, regional civil defense offices reported to the NDRRMC that some
local governments had failed to conduct evacuation before the typhoon hit their
respective areas.
In Central Luzon, disaster management officials said some people preferred to
stay in their homes than to be rescued or brought to evacuation centers, some of
which lack facilities.
Lawmakers seek new measures
At the House of Representatives, Cebu Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing filed
earlier this week House Bill 5385 or the National Dam Safety Act of 2011, which
seeks to "provide compensation for the loss of life and property of people
adversely affected by the release of water from dams or reservoirs."
The measure also proposed the creation of a National Dam and Safety Review
Board, which will oversee, monitor and inspect the conditions of all dams in the
country and come up with measures to mitigate the effects of releasing water
from dams or reservoirs during heavy rain and typhoon.
Under the proposed measure, in case of death of an individual, his or her
family is entitled to receive P50,000. In case of physical, emotional or
psychological injuries, the cost of hospitalization and other related damage
shall be shouldered by the government.
The victims can also claim compensation for damage to their properties.
Bacolod City Rep. Anthony Golez, on the other hand, filed a bill seeking to
regulate donations of medicine, food products and similar items being given by
the private sector to ensure public safety.
Golez, a doctor and currently vice-chairman of the House committee on health,
said the bill intends to make sure that all donations will be safe for
consumption and will reach the intended recipients.
At the Senate, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. filed Senate Resolution 616 directing
the Senate committees on climate change, energy, environment and natural
resources, as well as his public works committee, to conduct an investigation on
the natural disaster preparedness and readiness of NDRRMC.
He said the Senate inquiry must be wide-ranging and should tackle every
aspect of disaster risk reduction and management, including NDRRMC's
pre-disaster strategy.
Revilla earlier urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to
make sure that new, reconstructed and repaired infrastructure are built with
high standard materials that can withstand the impact of climate change.
FROM MANILA STANDARD
Binay: Use technology to manage risk by Eric B.
Apolonio
Vice President Jejomar Binay, speaking at the Conference on Innovative ICT,
CIO and Natural Disasters at the De La Salle University on Thursday, asked IT
(information technology) experts to maximize technology for disaster risk
reduction management.
Binay also called for the immediate inclusion of the use of ICT in disaster
management in the draft of the Philippine Government Action Plan for 2012, which
President Aquino presented to the Open Government Partnership launching in New
York last month.
He said research and development should not be a concern because the
technology needed for this already exists.
"These technologies provide a channel for sending and receiving information
thereby ensuring government response that is grounded on the needs and
peculiarities of each area," Binay said.
Meanwhile, Malacañang gave assurance yesterday that it could effectively
handle any possible crisis an incoming typhoon could cause, as the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
reported the presence of a low pressure area in eastern Visayas.
PAGASA warned of more flashfloods and landslides, as a result of more rains
because of low pressure area that could likely turn into a new typhoon.
"That's the reason why we have (Public Works and Highways) Secretary
(Rogelio) Singson there, he will try to rationalize everything in case of
flashfloods, and in case of releases of water from the dams. That's something
that he will work on with the National Water Resources Board," presidential
spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a media briefing at the Palace.
He said the government has an accurate forecasting system in place enabling
it to anticipate typhoons and effectively preposition important goods intended
for affected communities. – With reports from Helen Flores,
Ding Cervantes, Jose Rodel Clapano, Paolo Romero, Aurea Calica, Alexis Romero,
Christina Mendez, Dino Balabo, Charlie Lagasca
Binay: Use technology to manage risk by Eric B. Apolonio
Vice President Jejomar Binay called for using technology to minimise the
heavy toll of natural disasters on the economy.
He made the proposition to stakeholders during the conference on innovative
information and communication technology at De La Salle University-Manila.
"Still, even the most rudimentary technology—utilized well—can help mitigate
the impact of a disaster, and reduce the cost to property and human lives,"
Binay said.
Binay also called for the inclusion of the use of ICT in disaster management
in the draft of the Philippine Government Action Plan for 2012 which President
Benigno Aquino III presented to the Open Government Partnership launching in New
York last month.
"The one thing missing in this PGAP draft is also to my mind, one of the most
crucial: how government can maximize the capability of ICT in Disaster Risk
Reduction Management. I am of the opinion that it is an oversight that needs to
be immediately corrected," he said.
Binay said research and development should not be a hindrance because the
technology needed already was available.
He cited geographic information system and remote sensing useful tools for
geo-hazard mapping or identifying areas that are more prone to earthquakes,
droughts, landslides, and floods.
"This would allow the concerned government agencies and LGUs to take the
necessary pre-emptive measures," he added.
Binay said after the occurrence of disasters, satellite data can be used to
determine the extent of damage, conduct post-disaster surveys and guide relief
operations.
He noted the role of social media and cellular phones as highly effective and
cost-efficient platforms for providing timely information.
According to Binay, harnessing present technology provides a channel for
sending and receiving information to ensure prompt government response suited to
the needs of a locality.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved
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HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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