Another weather devastation hits Manila

PHILIPPINES - In Brief 26 Oct 2024 by Diwa Guinigundo

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Despite the government of President Bongbong Marcos spending about half a trillion pesos for flood control projects in just over two years, and there are about 5,000 of them, nothing seems to have come out of such massive public spending. Those projects were nothing to tropical storm Kristine, with international name “Trami,” which unleashed a month’s volume of rainfall in 24 hours. As of today, October 26, 2024, 52 people were reported dead as damage to crops and properties in about 15 regions across the Philippines’ three major islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao continues to pile up. Floodwaters have yet to recede in many parts that left highways and vehicles and houses submerged. This poses huge problems for both private and public relief operations. High floodwaters hamper the delivery of food, water, and clothing to the calamity victims. There is one glaring problem. Relief efforts were begun by the Government mostly when the worst of Kristine was over. Effect on life and property could have been somewhat mitigated if preemptive measures had been taken earlier when the country’s PAGASA, the weather bureau, warned in its advisory that the tropical cyclone was serious as it turned out to be. For many cities and provinces, it was the worst in a couple of decades. It was only after Kristine's fury was felt that directives were issued by the government that one, unprogrammed funds for disaster response in areas hardest hit could be used if the existing funds are not enough; and two, a "conveyor belt of aid" is to be established that is constantly delivering aid to the front, whether by air, land or sea. All of these partake of a Monday quarterbacking; more anticipa...