Here comes the rain

THE SUMMER solstice on June 21, 2014 marked the longest day of the year for the Philippines. As much as it marked the start of the summer in the other part of the world, it also signaled the onset of rainy season in our part of the world.

And as in the past, rainy season in our country is also typhoon season and disaster time. The move of Ilocos Norte Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos to map emergency equipment around the province is not only laudable but more so wise; as it is better to be prepared now when we can still move around rather than racing against time when disasters strike.

The equipment mapping also look to include private contractors around the province as the provincial government looks to them to assist if and when disasters strike.

Landslide-prone and flood-prone areas in the provinces have been identified. And if landslide and floods cannot be prevented by human interventions for now, the provincial government should preposition all the needed equipment in the areas. This move would tremendously increase their response time to clear landslides and to employ rescue operations in flooded areas.

But as much as this is laudable, our officials should also dig deeper now to find ways in either preventing these disasters or mitigating their effects. As much as there is already a tourism master plan for the province, we can only hope that they have also prepared a similar master plan that would address problems in the disaster-prone areas around the province. Otherwise, all these things would just turn into a cycle: prepare, rescue and repair, and then back again.

A geo-hazard map has been made available by the national government. Here, landslide- and flood-prone areas have been identified—along with those susceptible to storm surges and tsunamis. A map showing earthquake faults has also been made available by the government.

However, it would not matter if everything is being served on a silver platter if persons concerned would not do anything to prepare, mitigate and—ultimately—to prevent these disasters from affecting the people.

As Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you are right.”