Near final call for sanctuaries

The other day, I visited a school in Compostela town. I found it in a better condition compared to some areas which I passed along the way. The mud that Typhoon Tino left in its buildings was thick. It was an ugly sight. But I was terrified to see a big car, probably an SUV, that the flooding waters presumably put on top of the branches of a large tree about two meters above ground not very far from the school. Still I was even more horrified to view some remnants of structures that were obviously swept away by the raging power of the Tino-generated inundation. I could only shudder in imagining what could have happened to the occupants of those homes.

While on the road for two hours going back home to the city in the car of Dean Ramon Penalosa, I found occasion to talk about sanctuaries. I told him that I wrote a number of times in this column the need for local government units to build evacuation centers as part of disaster preparation. In fact, my latest essay on the subject was carried in this paper only a little over a month ago. Dean Penalosa confirmed having read those past articles but he apologetically admitted though that he, then, could not attach importance to the subject I wrote about until the other day. The devastation that we witnessed and from the admission of the dean, it has dawned on me to write again and perhaps remind our government leaders the growing need to establish such shelters.

Zig Ziglar, an American author and motivational speaker came to my mind. I explained to Dean Penalosa that according to Ziglar, “repetition is the mother of learning, the father of action which makes it the architect of accomplishment” or words to that effect. I am not ashamed to appear repetitious because I hope that in writing again, I may be able to show the present necessity for buildings where people can be herded to in times calamities.

The internet has this to say. “A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine, protected by ecclesiastical immunity. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. Indeed, the sanctuary I have been writing about has grown far beyond its ecclesiastical connotation. It has become a public necessity. A deeper understanding of the constitutional provision which reads: “The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature” will lead to the acceptance of the urgent demand upon the government to establish structures to serve as safe havens of the people in times of ecological disturbances.

What is an ideal sanctuary? It is, in my imagination, a structure built on an area that is not near to such potential natural catastrophes like floods and earthquakes. We can include fires in the enumeration. The (a) destruction brought by super typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013 and (b) the damage inflicted upon Bogo City and nearby localities by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake on September 30, this year should lead our government to construct structures that can withstand high intensity tremors and super typhoons.

Finally, in layman’s language, let me say first that in this building, complementing force in sufficient numbers of initial responders like rescue teams, police and security forces, medical and para medical personnel, drivers and utility workers shall be housed. Second, all forms of necessary transportation units, tools, equipment, medical/surgical implements together with effective communication facilities must be stored in appropriate places as will facilitate quick and immediate action. That way they can act swiftly and in coordinated manner to meet emergency situations. Third, the sanctuary must be built to accommodate huge number of anticipated victims and can store food provisions to last reasonable length of time.