Better infrastructure needed for calamity situations

Typhoon survivors crowd a house with standby generators to recharge their cell phones in Tacloban, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013. Returning to the typhoon-devastated city on Tuesday, a week since she first saw Tacloban stripped of almost everything, the United Nations humanitarian chief found communities eager to get back on their feet and resume normal living. AP PHOTO/BULLIT MARQUEZ

TOKYO, Japan—Two days before the start of the Tokyo Motor Show 2013 here, the coverage of the national tragedy caused by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: “Haiyan”) to the Philippines remains top priority for international cable news channels like CNN and BBC.

While hard-hit areas like Tacloban City, Cebu and Leyte have received the much-needed aid as reported by these popular channels, I believe that there are far more areas gravely affected that need just as much, if not more, international humanitarian aid.

Notice that I mentioned international aid. This is not to point fingers at or blame our government, but really, it’s simply because there are not enough resources to cope with the massive demand for relief. Since much of the supplies are air-lifted via helicopters to remote areas and the government does not have enough of them, the process of providing help is being slowed down.

These areas are actually accessible by land. But unfortunately, the few roads going to these areas are not properly built, not paved with concrete or asphalt, but many of which are dirt roads. Roads which have eroded and have been deemed impassable for wheeled vehicles.

The government has been doing its job in developing the economy, if we are to believe P-Noy’s recent speeches. But the government is failing to address one critical point: development in far-flung areas. If only the areas affected by the typhoon had better basic infrastructure, emergency rations and aid could have been carried out sooner, rather than waiting an entire week before serious headway could be made in delivering relief goods. On-site interviews from the local government units, foreign nongovernment organizations, aid volunteers and the affected residents always amount to the same thing: The few roads leading into and out of the affected towns were blocked and impassable. Perhaps if there were more roads which are wider and better-surfaced, then aid could have come sooner?

And why are bigger, better, wider and safer roads not being built? Because the government seems to be intent on improving its short-term image to the media rather than focusing on long-term development and improvement throughout the country.

Think about it. With better infrastructure in other areas, commerce, industry, tourism, logistics, people’s way of life will improve. With improved living standards in areas outside of Metro Manila, we will see less and less of people coming to Metro Manila, being led to believe that life in Manila is better. Indeed, life in Manila is better if you consider what you can access here as opposed to the provinces (imported goods, high-end whatever, vices). But in terms of finding a stable means of livelihood? I honestly think the verdict is still out on that one.

We need people to stay where they are, develop their communities, create wealth and spread it. The government only needs to provide better infrastructure (roads, bridges, potable water sources, electricity and an airstrip if not exactly an airport, precisely to deliver emergency aid via airlift in situations as this). I’ve seen it myself, when the government goes on a massive spending spree on public infrastructure (which also improves safety and helps reduce the cost of logistics for business, especially for the food and agriculture sector), the quality of life improves. Why can’t our government see this? Yes the P-Noy administration has been working hard on improving things in Metro Manila.

But what about the rest of the country?

Secondly, the various cargo airplanes from foreign governments (I saw  on TV New Zealand, British and American cargo planes joining the relief operations) returning to Metro Manila and Metro Cebu from delivering emergency goods are bringing back with them refugees and displaced residents from the heavily afflicted areas. When asked, the refugees all say they were going to their relatives there to seek temporary shelter and financial/material aid for the short to medium term until life becomes better and their hometowns are liveable. Of course this is very normal and acceptable in Filipino culture. But is Metro Manila ready for a massive influx of homeless, jobless people? Especially considering that the holidays, which have always been the most hectic and most chaotic times in the Metro, are but a few weeks away?

There will be more traffic, public transportation (the PUVs and mass transits) will have even longer queues, and sadly, with a lot of mayhem and chaos, many unscrupulous individuals will no doubt take advantage of the situation and resort to crime and prey on the weak, confused and lost.

While it is a short-term solution, I hope that the government mobilizes the police force and even some military personnel to help patrol potentially dangerous and chaotic areas to prevent untoward incidents from happening. These would include areas such as shopping centers, transportation hubs, schools and places of worship. The government also needs to devote a large space just outside municipal or provincial capitals that are on high ground, and can accommodate a temporary tent city and host a forward operating base for relief and humanitarian efforts. The US Navy has deployed the flagship of its aircraft carrier group, the USS George Washington, which is home to 6,000 Navy men and women, to fast-track the delivery of relief services.

Indeed, these are trying times for the Filipino people. More so for our kin affected by the typhoon in the Visayas. But the worst is yet to come for people in Metro Manila, who were unaffected directly by the storm itself. Because the side effects, though not as harsh, will linger longer when Manila receives a large number of typhoon victims from the Visayas who have nowhere to go.

Meanwhile, I hope the P-Noy administration goes ahead for better infrastructure and emergency   backup  plans for areas outside of Metro Manila that are prone to natural calamities such as Yolanda.