By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA, Philippines — With Metro Manila and nearby provinces swamped by heavy rains and flooding, progressive groups are challenging the government to upgrade its disaster response into one that is predictive and preventive, rather than reactionary after calamities have already struck.
According to the group Ikaw, Sila, Tayo at Ako Maglilingkod sa Bayan (Istambay), the government’s disaster response teams may have supplies ready before calamities strike, but disaster preparedness should go beyond relief operations and address the underlying causes that leave communities vulnerable.
Istambay co-convenor Ricardo “Ric” Sakai III challenged the Marcos administration’s claim that it has shifted to a “predictive” approach to disaster response.
In a statement, Sakai said recurring floods and alleged irregularities in flood control projects show that the government has yet to address the root causes of disasters.
It may be recalled that during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. asserted that his administration has strengthened disaster preparedness through digital tools, pre-positioned relief supplies, and a nationwide network of disaster resource centers aimed at anticipating hazards before they occur.
However, several groups have stressed that preparing relief goods does not address the conditions that continue to expose communities to flooding and other calamities.
“Pre-positioning relief goods is not enough if the government itself fails to implement effective flood control and disaster mitigation,” Sakai pointed out, while also questioning the government’s handling of alleged corruption involving flood control projects.
“The recovery of P800 million and the freezing of several billion pesos linked to investigations are small compared with the hundreds of billions of pesos allocated for flood mitigation projects over the years. The authorities should investigate all individuals allegedly involved, including government officials, politicians, and contractors,” he said, while noting what has been described as selective accountability in corruption investigations.
ia/xf
