Six Days Later
Today is day 6 since Sendong released its wrath on both Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities. Since the morning when we woke up to the tragedy, the whole Cagayan de Oro and Iligan communities were busy helping and updating each other on the cities’ conditions.
The death toll rose, the number of missing persons increased, hundreds, if not thousands, of families had to move to evacuation centers after Sendong took away their homes and belongings.
Through the power of world wide web, donations have come a-pouring, inundating the city abundantly. And we are very grateful.
What the city needs now is TO HAVE THE RELIEF OPERATIONS ORGANIZED so that all victims will be able to avail of the relief goods sent by well-meaning donors.
But trending again in Facebook are the laments of victims, volunteers and vigilantes - venting out frustration over how the relief operations has become a venue for politicking and even hoarding, or at the least and probably most soberly stated, plain disorganized.
Some barangays have more than enough help they could get. Soup kitchens from different groups, such that the group that arrived late will have gone in vain, as the evacuees had already had their fill from the previous donors. This, while in other remote areas, no one mans the make shift evacuation areas where donations are scarce and the refugees are hungry and thirsty.
Money has poured in, it is said, form various NGOs and other governments, including our own. Now the general public raise their passionatevoices in the Facebook wall: “Who is going to be accountable for the money?!” “Be careful of the crooks in the government!” “Another venue for malversation of funds!” “Let’s build tenements!” “The victims need medical supplies and the babies and children need milk!”
Many of us are overwhelmed with the spirit of the Kagay-anon’s spirit of community at this time. There is a self-regulation of personal interest among the honest helping hands, the extension of oneself in all sectors of society, especially the academic, business, civic and medical fields are palpable in the streets. Even groups of friends locally called “barkadahan” have banded together and gone out to the areas that were hit, not to go on drinking sprees, but to help out (and grab a drink or two at the end of the day).
And yet, at this point, six days after the storm, the general public is feeling the discontent over the LACK OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT’S FIRM AND ASSURING PRESENCE. When 9/11 devastated the whole world, Rudy Giulliani was there in the streets, tending to his constituents, crying with their families, assuring the people of New York City that they will rise again. Lucky for New York and kudos to Rudy. It’s up to you to infer.
Oh, yes, he was there, on the radio, explaining that the dead bodies that were found after the water subsided were “temporarily” placed in the landfill/city garbage dumpsite because the stench of decomposition was already unbearable and unsanitary; and besides the landfill is the government’s only biggest property. Excuse me, but would you put a family member in a GARBAGE DUMPSITE BECAUSE HIS DECOMPOSING BODY IS A HEALTH THREAT? Wouldn’t you find ways to bury him with dignity?
The leaders are supposed to be leaders who know what to do. When I raised this concern in a “casual” conversation with a man whose house suffered from Sendong’s wrath (mud up to the ceiling), he asked me: “If it were up to you, how would you address the problem of the dead bodies on the streets?”
My reply: “I would call the owners of the three memorial gardens in our city and ask that the bodies be placed there until claimed. After all, the decomposing bodies would be far from the public (except as an afterthought I am thinking about the people who live nearby).” And then now, I am reminded that funeral parlors had a hard time embalming the dead bodies as water supply has been cut due to the damage.
This is what is true: The city has no hazard plan.
Rumors are also circulating: that the supposed father of the city was allegedly out Friday night, gambling. No, there is nothing wrong with any worker to unwind on a Friday night. But for the father of the city to pay no heed to the weather forecast (which predicted a typhoon signal number 1) - he should have at least mobilized his damage prevention team in case the areas flooded in 2009 would suffer from flooding again. Another one: 7 dams were allegedly released and that the water reservoir broke causing the rising of the water to be only a matter of minutes.
A responsible father and leader would be accountable for all this. He would know how to respond to the situation, even when he is wrong. But what do we hear from the appointed and elected leaders?
My fellow Kagay-anons and I are now left to our own resources doing what we can to help our city, ourselves, without so much the help of those who should be leading the way to rehabilitation.
Well, forgive me. The government says they are visible. Yes they are. But not in an effective way called for during calamities like this.
Thank God, each member of this community has taken his own initiative to rebuilding our broken city. Thank God, the leaders of the groups are finding ways to cooperate with one another, and when impasses are reached, still moving forward into rehabilitation. Thank God that the organization of all volunteer relief operations is underway.
We thank the groups and individuals who have helped our city in the hour of our need. We continue to ask for support as our city looks forward to rebuilding itself and rising above this tragedy. Pray that the changes our hometown will make will be longterm and that because of this tragedy, each person will be a new citizen who not only looks after his own personal interest, but the interest of our cities, the place where our children can run, play and be safe.
A blessed Christmas to one and all.
