Suggestions to cushion impact of calamities

Here are my humble suggestions in light of the series of disasters that struck our country the last few weeks.

In preparation for calamities, we need to start building depots for clothes, food, tents, water, medicines, generators, shovels, communication systems, jeeps, earth-moving equipment, diving gears, rubber boats, jet skis, body bags, etc. These depots will be located in strategic areas in Mindanao, the Visayas, Central Luzon and north Luzon.

We also need to establish a protocol which will ensure that within 24 hours after a disaster hits us, a general assessment of the devastation it caused can be made; and on a given signal, air, land and sea transport should move quickly to bring goods from the depots to the affected areas.

Police personnel should be deployed ahead of time to secure the safety of people and infrastructure, and to bring goods to the victims—as well as to clear runways and roads.

In nearby places, people not affected by the calamity should be oriented on how to respond. Private institutions and structures, including religious groups and organizations, should be involved in the preparation.

Also, four “grand marshals” with their respective vice marshals to oversee relief distribution must be named; they need to coordinate with each other every now and then, especially whenever a calamity strikes. They should see to it that the machines in the depots are running, the medicines are new and the food is fit for human consumption.

And I further suggest that the Priority Development Assistance Fund and the Disbursement Acceleration Program be used to make these suggestions happen.

We do not know exactly when the next disaster will come. We need to be prepared. The fault line that stretches from Marikina up to Tagaytay is a catastrophe in waiting. Every year we are being battered by at least 20 typhoons. We can lessen the number of casualties if we are prepared. God bless our beloved Philippines!

—REV. WINSTON V. PINZON,

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