Be Alert

We shared our different capacities and  vulnerabilities of our community. In my case, i listed the community where I am living as of the moment. I am living in Quezon City, it means my community have many capacities and vulnerabilities. Capacities are, my community has a good garbage collecting system and in case of disasters, there are many evacuation centers. But on the other hand, there are also vulnerabilities such as many houses are really cramped and i believe that unfortunately, these houses will not hold or stay the same after a disaster, thus adding more casualty. I live near 2 hospital: Sioson general hospital and the Veterans Medical Center. The latter can also be an evacuation center due to its massive location. Also, i live just across a mall empowered by solar energy, where can potentially be an evacuation center. This is also a capacity. 

When we were doing the hazard mapping, it truly helped us because say for instance, we are not at home and we are in a place we are not very familiar to, that map familiarize me on where to go or what place is dangerous for me and my family. 

After conducting this activity, i felt a rush of adrenaline in me, that i should be at all times alert and not panic because as being informed, i have the responsibility to help other people.

Now is the Time

As what I have said in my older blog entries, NOW is the best time to address issues. We can never tell when a huge disaster will come at us. Even PAG-ASA can detect typhoons and such, we can never be truly ready in that short period of time. In addressing these issues, the barangay officials and one who is knowledgeable in rescuing, evacuating, etc. When a plan is already created, The officials should talk to the community or hold a meeting or forum for the families to have them informed or if there are suggestions to make the system better. 

Practically speaking, we all should talk and address these issues quarterly. Of course, there are circumstances happening in the community which can't be avoided so there should be ah updated plan of what to do.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Capacities and vulnerabilities are a big deal in today's time. It will make or break our lives, because this is a factor that will really affect what could happen in the future. If I am to anything to strengthen the capacities of my community and do something to turn the vulnerabilities into capacities, I would start small. I would do what is possible. I would first start to tell my family the risks, and I would tell them what we should do in case of disaster. Then after, I would seek help in the barangay. I would help them have a great, strong, and feasible plan when a time of disaster comes. Seminars and proper education is what our community should have because I believe that when a disaster came and when we are not aware of what we would do, we would panic and it will only cause more casualties. So there should have an evacuation center, and we should know how to get there to get food from there. 

People should know the capacities because it can somehow help us when we become unlucky in disasters.

Small Steps Lead to Big Changes

     When I went to our Barangay hall and I asked for someone for an interview, they gladly obliged and even gave me a HUGE and THICK bounded documents containing the plan when a disaster came. I saw a printed powerpoint presentation, which is an evidence that our barangay officials really planned and talked to people about this. In the presentation, there are 4 quadrants. When I asked the official what does that mean, she told me that these are evacuation places where people can go. With every quadrant, there are 5-6 streets covered. One quadrant also contains the Triage/Treatment area. Not only that, but ever quadrant has an assigned 2 barangay officials to officiate.

            We saw the assigned safety officer of the Barangay for further information but unfortunately, he has a more important task to do that day. 

            The presentation also contains the lists where people will know to whom will them ask help because listed there are names assigned for the Search and Rescue, Evacuation and Relief, Mobilization, and Assesment. 

            There are existing equipment and supplies that we can use. Example of these are chainsaws, generator, handheld radios, fire extinguisher, tents, stretchers, oxygen tanks, and many others.

            In the aspect of informing people about that to do, there are seminars, collaboration meetings, quarterly training in different areas, earthquake drills, simulation exercises, and also a post disaster plan where there are different tasks assigned to the officials.

The Need of Addressing Calamity Issues

 When typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines,  we were truly devastated. Not just loss of people but also in the case of infrastructures and natural resources. How do we get up from this kind of disaster that ruined the lives of our countrymen? 

We need to address the issue of disasters because this will help us prevent future casualties. Sure, the Philippines was hit a lot of times before, and one might say that this experience is the best teacher. But are we really ready? We have to first accept the fact this needs planning and proper execution. There really are some strict precautionary measures in this aspect because we are trying to protect each other’s well-being in this kind of circumstances. Before anything disastrous that might happen, we should all help to make plans for what’s going be the system when a disaster came. 

Addressing the issue also makes us educated. Educated on what might possibly happen in the future, We should better be safe and ready than sorry. Not only the barangay officials and the concerned  citizens know this, but ALL the people, because when we are hit by a calamity, no one would be exempted. 

Prevention is Better than Cure

Disasters will truly ruin everyone’s life. Hazards are the natural and constant causes of disasters, because when hazard, risk, and vulnerabilities are put together, it will result to a disaster. But of course, there are preventions that can be done to minimize the casualties in times of disasters. Example of these are the risk reduction, where we can do whatever it takes to save lives and save the community. Also, capacities are present in every community. This will help the system to grow or even to stand up like having an evacuation center, or a complete and comprehensive and feasible disaster plan.

Lets take for example if you are already amidst of a disaster and you are very vulnerable and weak, of course you’ll need help. This is when help should come. Bibingka approach is not just sending help to the helpless, but being one with the helpless. Sure, they need food, shelter, clothing, etc., but they also need emotional support and assurance that they are not alone in this life.

Having experienced the basics of first aid and practicals, I feel that I am ready in case if disasters. Yes, I am inexperienced but i know this can help my community in the future.

Filipinos are always resilient. When a disaster came and the news go there to broadcast the community, you can still see children and adults behind the reporter; waving, smiling to the camera as if nothing happened. Filipinos are like bamboo, whenever they sway, they go back to their original form. Life goes on, and we should never give up with it even life took us everything. Bahay-Tao-Bagyo is the game we played, and it truly mirrors what is happening out there. Some people will take you in help you, some wont. Some people will risk their safety just to help their fellow Filipinos.