Two saddest words

People and local government units of this province,canlearnfromthewildfirepanic thatengulfedthe metropolis ofCebu minutes after Monday’s intensity 6.9 earthquake.

Thousandsscampered for “safety” infoothillsaftera motorcycle-riding duo tore through town,yelling through a megaphone, thattsunami waves were swamping downtown areas.. Within minutes, thatclaim ricochetedthrough cellphones and Internet.

InaBarangay Luz cemetery, a family abandoned thecoffin of a relative toflee. Vendors jettisonedtheir goods. At Cebu City Medical Center, patients dragged their dextrose stands and scampered in different directions. Prisoners screamed for wardens to “let us out.”

Somekept their cool. GMA’s multi-awarded radio commentator Bobby Nalzaro repeatedly toldlisteners thatno such tidal wave had swept in. So, did Rep. Tomas Osmena.

Since then, Cebu City police invitedabarangay councilman and a radio blocktimer for questioning. Both failed to show up immediately.

A day after, Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology apologized forissuing a TsunamiAlert 2withoutexplanation. Thatannouncement merely asked local government units to monitor seawater conditions, right after the quake.

Butsomemistook thatas caution for approaching tsunami.“We apologize to the public for any panic that the tsunami warning caused,”. Philvocs Lapu-Lapu City officer in charge Robinson Jorgio said . “If only we were given a chance to explain why we announced the warning.”

“If only … must be the two saddest words in the world”, the poetsays. The psychological stressby the false alarm has been severe. So wasthe economic damage.We musttake steps to prevent a repeat.

Thus, the paper posted by Philippine Jesuits on “Connecting People and Ecology” suggests ways. Here are excerpts:

In 2012 ( and thereafter ) ,we mustreduce the risk for our neighbor and for the environment by preparing for disasters. “We have the science, specifics of geographic location, institutions of government,. Clearly, we lackthe technical capacity andcomprehensive governance coordination, from barangay levels up,across the country.

( 1)Emergency preparedness.Set up warning system. Adopta day or night evacuation strategy that clays out the location, paths, and methods to reach safe areas temporary settlement, if need be

( 2 )Relocation and land allocation.Cities and and local governmentsshouldidentifying safe lands for settlements and procedures for acquisition. Plans should go beyondmitigation activities. should factor inpeople’s livelihood accessibility in ways that livelihood is sustained Re-build infrastructure that willwithstand the next disaster.

( 3 )Landsca)pe and waterscape planning and development.Seekbroad participation of key people in infrastructure development, specially in especially in critical areas of riverbanks, slopes, and flood plains.

( 4 )Floodplain managementReestablish natural flood areas and enforce restrictions and controls in the: alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers. Similar caution should be exercised inconstruction of flood barriers that unnaturally divert floodwaters.

Dean Antonio LaViña of the Ateneo School of Governmentpinpointednine tasks if peopleandlocalgovernmentto undertakeifthey’re torespond effectively to future “disasters..”

These tasks are: ( 1 )How to wind down relief; ( 2 )Resettlement( 3 ). Helping alsothe middle class’ ( 4 ) Accountability; ( 5 ). Communication of the science; ( 6 ). Disaster risk analysis, reduction and preparednessover the short-term; ( 7 ). Climate change adaptationfor thelong-term; ( 8 ). Land use iskey to policy’ (9 ). Enforcement of environmental laws ( Here, mining and real estate developmentare a prickly issue a big question.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau, in collaboration with the Jesuit Environmental Science for Social Changehaveupload the entire set of the country’s geohazard maps in ESSC’s website.

This allows local governments toaccess the data for planning.This will be accompanied by area recommendations undertaken by MGB that will guide local government planning and action especially for areas vulnerable to landslides and flooding.

The Bishops’-Businessmen’s Conference for Human Development is exploring a renewed national dialogue on human development and the role of mining in Philippine society. Mining is a contentious concern in the country, with polarized sectors that are either for or against mining.

“We need a society that can value life and change its systems of relations and responsibilities to meet new basic needs, the website adds. We mustexpanding theFilipino and Asian value of baynihan.

The future requires “informed pro-activeness that changes our landscape for the good of all. This includes serious planning for a sustainable future that integratesknowledge of the disaster potential and local realities.”*

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