The government has placed the economic impact of Storm “Ondoy” (international name Ketsana) at P8.3 billion, derived mostly from estimates of damaged infrastructure, homes and crops, and the cost of rescue and relief operations.
But if one were to take into account the “indirect losses,” such as system losses, foregone revenue and opportunity costs, not to mention the social and psychological impact of the destruction caused by Ondoy, then the total cost would rise considerably.
Using official reports from the National Disaster Coordinating Council, the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, and other government agencies, an economist connected with a multi-lateral institution places the total economic damage at P14.9 billion. This estimate, he says, does not include losses suffered by the private sector, including those incurred by business closures and damage to smaller enterprises.
His estimate includes losses of up to P2.5 billion in the housing sector; P88 million (which amount could reach up to P140 million) in “access cost of students” who were displaced from their schools which were converted into evacuation centers; and P290 million in “foregone revenues of the dead.”
Although the number changes every day, especially since classes have resumed, on average there were 628 persons in one evacuation center immediately after the floods subsided. But if one takes the total number of individuals affected by Ondoy, says the economist, the ratio would be 7,571 persons in one evacuation center.
As an aside, although local executives have been urging evacuees to return home, so many refuse to leave the centers, saying their areas are still under water and in the center they are assured, at least, of regular meals. The situation has reached such straits that public school teachers were shown on TV news engaged in shouting matches with stubborn evacuees.
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THE TOTAL amount of government assistance to Ondoy victims (including amounts given by NGOs) is valued at P80.2 million. With the total number of affected individuals placed at nearly four million, this amount translates to P20.52 per person—enough for maybe one kilo of NHA rice and maybe two packs of ice water at P1 each, but “with looming uncertainties faced by those affected on how to go on with their daily lives, P20.52 is absolutely not sustaining,” says the economist.
But not all the almost four million victims were actually served by government. Those reached by government programs total just under one million, which means that each served individual received P81.45 in assistance.
And the rest of Ondoy’s victims? From where did they get help to move on with their lives? “From kin, friends and social networks,” reports the economist. “They are proof that support can come from what economists and sociologists call ‘informal arrangements’ (as opposed to ‘formal arrangements’ by the government and from international support). At times, catastrophic events like Ondoy can wipe out a whole host of insurable material assets and the only asset left is friends, relatives and social networks. They act as social insurance which allows individuals to even out consumption during hard times. They are extremely valuable.”
And from this “victim” of Ondoy, comes a heartfelt “Amen.” In the days of uncertainty and despond that followed the retreat of floodwaters, it was the words of concern and encouragement, as well as much-needed practical and financial support, that kept one going. To this day, “kin (even those based abroad), friends and social networks” continue to call to ask after our welfare, or else come around bearing gifts ranging from houseware to small appliances. It is the knowledge that they are around to offer timely assistance should one call out that keeps one believing it is possible to begin anew.
Expressing thanks for such a “valuable resource” will be a never-ending task and responsibility.
I might as well add, too, that knowing that one’s family is not alone or isolated in misery is oddly comforting. Indeed, it is the awareness that so many others have it so much worse that allows one to see beyond the petty inconvenience and be grateful for small favors.
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SPEAKING of disasters, hunger is a natural, if not expected, consequence of catastrophic events. But hunger is also an ever-present reality for a big number of Filipinos, though unfortunately, the public seems to pay attention to the issue of hunger only during or after a disaster like Ondoy and its floods, as well as Typhoon “Pepeng.”
But even before these natural disasters, the government has been seeking to address the problem of hunger, mainly through the National Nutrition Council (NNC) chaired by Health Secretary Francisco Duque.
An important, though often overlooked, factor in efforts to alleviate hunger is the need for an efficient network of roads and vehicles for the transportation of staples and other foodstuffs to areas and people in need. This is where road maintenance by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) becomes of crucial importance.
In a report submitted to the NNC, the DPWH said it has completed 1,580 of the 3,930 roads or 40.2 percent in Priority 1 areas; 1,116 of the 3,048 roadside projects (36.60 percent) in Priority 2 areas; and 1,279 or the 3,542 roadside projects (36.10 percent) in Priority 3 areas.
Duque also reported that the program has generated 10,520 jobs in the identified areas. This roadside maintenance and job generation project of the DPWH is part of the Comprehensive Livelihood Employment and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) and the Accelerated Hunger-Mitigation Program (AHMP), both intended to address hunger and poverty in the country.
