Environmental group pushes for proactive disaster solutions
Unidentified boy manage to look at the roots of a fallen acacia tree infront of Mabolo church due to typhoon Yolanda no ones reported hurt during the fall.(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
MANILA, Philippines – Amid early announcements and mobilization of the government’s disaster management councils, the country was clearly not prepared for the onslaught of monster typhoon “Yolanda,” an environmental group said on Monday.
Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) expressed dismay at the extent of damage wrought by the typhoon in the Visayas and other parts of the country, saying it could have been minimized.
“Despite forced evacuations of thousands of people in high-risk areas, safe and structurally secure evacuation centers and proper evacuation plans were clearly lacking,” the group said in a statement.
News reports earlier said the collapse of some evacuation centers has resulted in deaths of more residents.
The group also questioned the lack of satellite phones or ultra high frequency radios that would have addressed communication problems.
“The Aquino [administration] failed to prepare the country sufficiently for the storm surges that Yolanda brought, which was reported to have been 20 feet high in some places and cited to have likely caused the massive death toll,” Kalikasan PNE campaign coordinator Leon Dulce said.
Dulce slammed President Benigno Aquino III, saying, “Reducing disaster risks and vulnerabilities isn’t solved by an ostentatious national address and a promise of presidential pork.”
The group said relying on calamity and contingency fund was a “reactive, myopic and corruption-prone solution to the growing strength and frequency of typhoon disasters and other climate change impacts.”
Instead, it said the government should embark on “community-based climate adaptation initiatives” such as mangrove reforestation, early warning systems and participatory capacity building of local disaster councils and communities.
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