PABLO: IF YOU WALK AWAY, EVERYDAY IT WON’T RAIN
Pablo, with maximum winds of 195kph and gustiness of 180kph, entered
the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Tuesday morning on December
04, 2012 at Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. It land-fell in the major island
of Mindanao through Davao Oriental province moving in a westward
direction. Almost thirty (30) provinces across the archipelago were
affected causing thousands of Mindanawons and Visayans to stay in evacuation centers
identified and provided by their local government units (LGUs). The
typhoon caused notable damage to agriculture and properties to the three
provinces of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and Surigao del Sur which were badly affected.
As of press time, the typhoon is taking a route going westward of the archipelago to West Philippine Sea. Public Storm Signals 1, 2 and 3 is still being raised by the PAG-ASA to the affected provinces in some parts of Visayas and Mindanao as a safety measure to warn the public for possible flashfloods, landslides and rising of water levels in riverbanks and coastal areas.
As of press time, the typhoon is taking a route going westward of the archipelago to West Philippine Sea. Public Storm Signals 1, 2 and 3 is still being raised by the PAG-ASA to the affected provinces in some parts of Visayas and Mindanao as a safety measure to warn the public for possible flashfloods, landslides and rising of water levels in riverbanks and coastal areas.
As early as Monday, the LGUs in many parts of Mindanao and Visayas
through the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) announced the suspension of classes of all levels as
part of their risk reduction measures. According to the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council
(NDRRMC), there are more than a hundred of casualties confirmed and
more or less 50,000 evacuees reported. The increasing figures of the
number of casualties confirmed and recorded by the NDRRMC comes from the
landslide-hit Compostela Valley province where the search and retrieval
operation for more than a hundred people missing is still going on. As
expected, the typhoon recorded 15-30mm rainfall quite close to Sendong’s
25mm in 2011 and Ondoy‘s 50mm in 2009.
As it turned out, Pablo’s aftermath didn’t threaten that much the Land of Promise. Mindanawons’ laudable level of disaster preparedness and the government’s (PAG-ASA, NDRRMC, DILG, DPWH, LGUs, among others) commendable risk reduction management is what makes Pablo an instrument for bayanihan as visualized on how Filipinos
(Mindanawons, in particular) have collectively extended their efforts
for the common good of their home, the Land of Promise, and the safety
of its dear inhabitants, the Mindanawons.
The greatest learning we can get from Pablo’s aftermath is to really
take part in these safety measures planned, implemented, and monitored
by these concerned government authorities. For disaster preparedness and
risk reduction management is not a business for the government alone,
it is every Filipino’s concern.
To those who have been spared with another life, rejoice and be glad.
To those who have lost their loved ones and their properties, our
thoughts are with you. Soon, the sun is going to beam in with delight
again, the moon to reflect the light of serenity, and the stars to
twinkle the representation of hope. Keep safe, mga higala!
Comments
Post a Comment