PHNO-HT: HT NEWS: HOW PREPARED IS CEBU FOR DISASTERS?

HT NEWS: HOW PREPARED IS CEBU FOR
DISASTERS?
[PHOTO - Cebu flood. Metro Cebu and Mandaue City submerged
due to heavy rains]
MANILA, AUGUST 27, 2012
(PHILSTAR) THE FREEMAN-PERSPECTIVE By Cherry
Piquero-Ballescas Floods, landslides, even fires amidst Tuesday afternoon's
heavy downpour in Cebu City and elsewhere in Cebu Province.
That was just about an afternoon's downpour and yet, so many
people and communities were affected.
Commuters were either stranded or unable to take their usual public ride
because the floods stalled vehicles in various cities of Cebu. Those who were
able to finally get their ride had to bear with hours of delay getting home due
to the snarled traffic caused by the floods. Fire trucks responding to the 2
fires that hit communities last Tuesday were delayed again, this time by the
floods.
There were also landslides in various parts of Cebu which made travel even
more difficult and dangerous. New holes on the roads were also observed which
posed even more danger to people and which made traffic worse.
Again, we emphasize: the heavy rains did not last long and the rains were not
related to any typhoons, YET, the various cities and the rest of Cebu
experienced so much challenges and risks to people and communities.
Gratefully, last Friday's earthquake did not cause any major damage and did
not claim any lives in Cebu. However, if everyone observed, communication about
the location, magnitude and impact of the earthquakes did not come in until
about 20 minutes after. Sadly, the first broadcasted information was also not
correct and incomplete.
The August 31, 2012 earthquake felt in many regions of the Philippines and
the September 5, 2012 heavy rains, floods, landslides and fires in various parts
of Cebu remind us all again about the URGENCY, the NECESSITY to effectively
prepare for and manage disasters.
Recent news reports focus on various initiatives related to disaster
resiliency all throughout the country. Emergency preparation and drills in
certain schools and offices outside of Cebu, for example, were shown on TV.
What about Cebu Province and Cebu City?

[PHOTO-CEBU CITY]
How prepared is Cebu for disasters?
Various editorials and articles in various local newspapers in Cebu lament
the absence of effective disaster preparedness and management all throughout
this country, including Cebu's cities, towns, barangays, and sitios.
The various fires that have affected communities in various cities of Cebu
continue to affirm the lack of adequate, effective fire preparation and
management systems and organizations at all levels, from top to bottom, from
city to community levels.
Many Cebuanos thought and verbalized earlier that the massive floods that hit
Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon a few weeks back may not hit Cebu, but
last Tuesday's short downpour experience will certainly make more Cebuanos
rethink.
Hopefully, the recent heavy rains, floods, landslides, sudden appearance of
holes on the roads, fires and earthquake and aftershocks will push Cebuanos to
immediately demand for an actual working and effective system of disaster
preparedness and management from the local government units. This
disaster-resiliency management system IS URGENT and must be in place ASAP ( AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE)!
Cebu City Councilors Nida Cabrera and Alvin Dizon are among those who are
quickly responding to this urgent need for effective disaster resiliency to
protect people and communities soonest. With UP Cebu, RCE-Cebu, and UC, they
have facilitated a workshop for September 17 to 1) assess the present disaster
resiliency situationer of the city, 2) determine who/which group is doing what,
where, when and how related to various types of disasters, and, 3) strengthen
(so that all are assured) that a working crisis command system is already in
place for effectively managing disaster risk and reduction, at all levels, down
to the sitio level.
Vice Mayor Al Arquillano of San Francisco, Camotes who has already organized
sitio-level disaster management teams, will share their Camotes experience.
Councilor Alvin Dizon had also earlier passed an ordinance, approved last
August 26, 2012, that request "school authorities and administrative heads of
both private and public institutions of higher learning in Cebu City to
undertake initial study on the possible revision of the design and formulation
of existing NSTP components in their respective schools to integrate safety,
rescue and clean up operations training (related to disaster resiliency) to make
NSTP more meaning and responsive to the demands of time."
Let us all join hands immediately to help strengthen and be part of an
effective, working system of disaster resiliency soonest!


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved




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