As soon as the weather models gave a projection of how big typhoon Ompong was, we saw the scurry of the government agencies and units. Emergency meetings were made involving key persons. Announcements about whether or not vessels were allowed to sail were made public. When everything fell into place, the whole country took a step back and braced for what could be another devastating typhoon just like Yolanda was five years ago. But we also saw how it all passed. By the looks of it, it isn't as bad as it seems to be.
Disaster response may have been a lesson learned late by the country. It took thousands of lives to be lost and millions worth of property and agriculture washed away during Yolanda before we understood what it meant to prepare. Today, even the barangays have their own disaster reduction management teams. In the region, they are taking things seriously and even making the small effort of educating the people in their homes to make their own to-go bag in case something may occur.
Have we ever learned? Yes and no. To me, the preparation for Ompong was not all in vain. They have made to some extent a level of preparation that allowed each and every one to be sure that they are ready for any eventuality. But their timing may have been late. Others still don't understand why the Philippine Coast Guard needed to cancel the trips. There are still Filipinos who complain and rant about it on social media that despite the smooth weather condition that they see with their eyes, they think that everything is safe. When will we learn to trust the authorities? Models and satellite images from not just one but many sites and countries have been blunt in telling us to prepare and brace for the worst. We cannot just move out of our homes when the tide hits its all-time high. It's better to be safe than sorry. That is an old cliché in itself but it still holds true.
Ompong is just one of the many typhoons that will pass our country. The issue now is not about resiliency but the ability to be able to weather the storm with available resources. The much bigger question now is have we allocated enough money for these resources? Government data will tell us where the bulk of that money goes to. If our leaders value lives more than their own personal agenda, then disaster response teams will get the best kind of equipment for their line of work.
But then again, welcome to the Philippines, the country where every reaction is late and the blame game is rampant. Well, I guess it's a step up compared to how we responded to disasters before. If given a grade out of ten, maybe a good 8 is all I can give from my standpoint. Nobody is perfect and there is always room for improvement.