Lingering storms

Another super typhoon is expected to hit the northern part of our country once again. Lawin is fast approaching, even while those affected have not yet gotten over Karen.

Have you observed how frequent typhoons have been this time? Not just typhoons but super typhoons have also been increasing in number for the past months, affecting many areas in different parts of the world.

From the Philippines, Karen headed for Vietnam, leaving about 25 people dead and so much destruction of crops and property. We pray Lawin will not unleash as much destructive power and that our people and resources will be spared and protected from any harm or damage. Do please stay and keep safe, everyone.

Thankfully, residents in the affected areas have been evacuated but all have to continue to remain vigilant and ready. With a new administration, emergency and relief operations may take a new form. Again, we pray, all will remain safe and those affected by the typhoons are promptly and appropriately attended and responded to.

Regardless of the level of development of nations, typhoons and other natural calamities are still real forces to reckon with. The best prepared nations, equipped with technology and other resources to predict and to respond to natural calamities like typhoons are still unable to successfully stop the forces of nature from taking lives and leaving behind their brand of destruction.

Being prepared and vigilant, however, have saved lives and mitigated risks and damage. Until our scientist would discover successful ways to predict the onset and timing and appropriate effective measures to lessen or eliminate the destructive effects of natural calamities, the best position to take and to continue is the path of awareness, readiness, and vigilance.

Typhoon Yolanda has raised the bar of awareness and preparation for typhoons among our people. Now when people hear about super typhoons and about storm surges, people themselves know what to do–communities are alerted and help each other to avoid damage to lives and property.

Calamities increase even more the vulnerability of those already vulnerable. Farmers who lost their precious crops, livelihoods, and their houses will have to find ways to carry on after a typhoon.

Typhoons affect food supply, the decrease or nonavailability of food items on the market, in turn, influencing prices

and other households not only in the typhoon-affected areas but even in parts of the country untouched by calamity. Typhoons damage or destroy bridges and other infrastructure, especially those built on corruption and pork barrel. Transportation and...