The new administration is still getting its bearings and needs the blackout that cast Luzon in darkness on Tuesday night and continued well into Wednesday like a hole in its head. With the general inconvenience wrought, critics?and there are many despite the optimistic mood that prevailed during President Aquino?s inaugural (a reflection, it turned out, of the steep trust rating of 88 percent for the man)?have been provided an early soapbox on which to perorate on disaster preparedness. And ?Basyang? is just the beginning.

Mr. Aquino did well to take charge of the National Disaster Coordinating Council meeting, and indeed to tell off the weather bureau for unacceptable, because inaccurate, forecasts. It was no time to be charming, after all, and if we are to get anywhere near the ideal disaster preparedness level, the accuracy of PAGASA?s forecasts is key. (Remember the grim surprise that Tropical Storm ?Ondoy? foisted on Sept. 26, 2009.)

Getting the necessary equipment, as well as the best people, is of course quite another thing. Still, we must get there.