SEARCH and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami, which devastated Northeastern Japan on March 11, are still in full force. But as the week progresses, the chances of finding more survivors become less likely.
And it feels as though nature’s wrath wasn’t enough. Japan is on the verge of a nuclear meltdown, with dangerous levels of radiation now leaking from the stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.
The entire world watches with bated breath as more devastating events unfold in Northeastern Japan on a day-to-day. The possibility of radioactive dust blowing into the Pacific region still hangs in the air.
If the future of a wealthy, well-prepared and disciplined country like Japan hangs in the balance, how can an impoverished third world country like the Philippines cope with a disaster?
Almost two years ago, Typhoon Ondoy inundated Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon with heavy rains and flash floods, displacing tens of thousands of families and putting the metropolis in a state of calamity. Damages were estimated at P6 billion as a nine-hour deluge submerged several cities in Metro Manila.
The government was caught unprepared for a disaster of this magnitude. Rescue efforts were delayed due to lack of equipment and manpower. And even though it was a fairly recent incident, it pales in comparison to the extent of devastation brought about by the quake and tsunami in Japan – a glaring proof that we are not as prepared as we should be.
The Philippines has been struck by earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 5.1 to 7.9 for the past 21 years. The Moro Gulf quake of August 17, 1976 is, perhaps, the closest in terms of devastation to what happened to Japan. The 7.9 temblor spawned a tsunami which destroyed more than 700 kilometers of coastline, killed 5,000 and left 100,000 homeless.
President Aquino has ordered government agencies to review and come up with a comprehensive assessment of the country’s disaster preparedness. The Senate also called for a congressional inquiry into the preparedness of government agencies and local governments in dealing with earthquakes and tsunamis. The assessments are still pending but hopefully, will yield more efficient and effective measures and solutions.
The Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study conducted jointly by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology revealed that a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Metro Manila would result in the destruction of 169,000 houses and the damaging of 340,000 other houses — representing 40 percent of all residential buildings in the metropolis.
Thirty five percent of all public buildings including schools and hospitals, city halls, fire and police stations, would also be damaged and seven bridges would likely collapse. All these structural failures would result in 34,000 deaths and 114,000 injuries, the report further revealed.
Actions and not convoluted discussions are what’s needed. Will we be fully prepared when the next Big One strikes? At this point, disaster preparedness is no longer just an option that can be shelved and procrastinated on. It is now a matter of paramount importance.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek Mar 16-18, 2011 Sec A pg. 6)
