Typhoon Mario just left Metro Manila underwater. So what’s new? Every time someone decides to take a leak in the metro a flood happens somewhere.
But the thing is, every single weather equipment Pagasa owns already predicted this scenario even before Mario hit Cebu. We already knew this would happen! And yet everyone was so busy bashing Binay, or blaming journalists for being killed, or boasting in Europe, that nobody really bothered to take proactive action against the typhoon.
This is the third typhoon that placed Metro Manila under water. Ondoy and Pablo already turned our capital into Waterworld. Yolanda should have taught us a lesson on disaster preparedness. But we were to busy focusing on mundane things like politics to care about our people. And I am sure the next step will be to blame Gloria Arroyo for the fiasco.
But really, do we need so much politics to address disaster preparedness? It is a simple as ABC. Step one: Assess the situation. Step two: plan a contingency action. Step three: include local government in the program. Step four: implement them.
Video by Marti Salva
We all know that an engineering solution is available to prevent floods from inundating our cities. Netherlands has been doing this for years and they are five times below sea level that Metro Manila. Yet no tragedy from floods has been reported in their area. We have trillions in our budget for mundane projects like tourism expenses and the sort.
And we cannot allocate the proper budget to address Metro Manila urban planning woes.
Not to be a fan of the Marcoses, but if you look at the old blu print of Marcos, all these issues have been addressed 20 years ago. These are the same plans Simgapore is now implementing to ensure progress and public service in their city state. Lee Kwan Yew is quoted in one whole chapter of his book that his basis for all his long term development plan for Singapore is the Marcos formula. Again, not to say Marcos was great. But is Noynoy any better? Does he not have a Romualdez in Abad, an Enrile in Alcala, a Ver in Purisima, and PR people in his Communications team?
What I am saying is that the flooding in Metro Manila and all the other urban issues have global templates for resolution. They are just too busy trying to perpetuate themselves in power to really address the problems. They all know they have only six years to do the job, why dwell on rhetoric and useless propaganda?
Why did he not hit the ground running in 2010 and fix everything he can during his time. Saying it takes more time to straighten our problems is like saying he is useless where he is unless he stays there forever. That was a Marcos solution and look where that brought us.
To put it all in perspective, Metro Manila urban planning and development is the purview of Malacañang. Get on it and solve it. Unless you want it delegated, then there is an existing law that allows for a governor of Metro Manila. It has never been repealed and the late Mel Mathay was the last occupant of that office.
And just like the death penalty, it’s there to use, we just need the balls to implement it. Except, of course, a Metro Governor is a dangerous threat to Malacañang and that is the only reason you do not put it in place. Imagine a Metro Manila governor in a party counter to Malacanang. Scary for the resident of the palace, ain’t it?
But that is only one consideration. There is also what we call the politics of flood control in the Metro. See if the wrong flood gates are opened and closed, Malacañang could go under water. And no President wants that.
So suffer, my countrymen. Abide by the capriciousness of your elected leaders and dry your houses. Because at the end of it all, they don’t care as long as they are high and dry. And again, all I can say is God Bless the Philippines.
