Are calamities - deaths and destruction caused by men's action?

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                                                Bad weather spoiled BBM sorties at Leyte

                                            Death and destruction at Baybay due to Agaton

A netizen made a comment on the sufferings - death and destruction at Baybay brought about by Agaton typhoon.  .  She cruelly commented that this was due to the citizens of the said place joining the activity of BBM.   It is a punishment for supporting criminals"

When there was Ondoy, an acquaintance quickly quipped that Ondoy was punishment of God due to sins 

of people from Luzon

How can we say that.  We can not fathom the wisdom of the Creator regarding events on this earth.  The time of judgement has not come.

They are acts of nature,and has nothing to do with election, events on this earth.   To think that way is illogical, reflects absence of critical thinking.   What caused their death is lack planning, further research by NDRRMC on risk areas for people to settle and put up their houses.  And DPWH  in putting up more effective anti erosion, anti landslide infrastructure.  

Magnitude 6.5 earthquake hits Eastern Visayas

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Rizal Philippines
July 10, 2017


From Inquirer News

A massive strong earthquake attributed to movement of Leyte portion of Philippine fault.  One was reported killed and 40 confined in hospital.  Numerous houses were reported destroyed, buildings collapsed and road cracks

It was reported to be Magnitude 6.5.  Just to give a comparison, the Kobe earthquake that damaged more than 150,000 houses and buildings and that killed 10,000 was of Magnitude 6.9

There were reported numerous aftershocks and they were still strong.  There is no stat yet of damaged houses

This is quite heartbreaking.   The residents have not fully recovered yet from Yolanda, and here is another destruction.  But  Mayor Richard Gomez of  Ormoc City that may be the suffering is only for the day.   (For those whose houses are not damaged but for those whose houses were destroyed.

Hmm, the earthquakes are flirting in Mindanao, Visayas, northern Luzon, and Batangas.  Dapat talaga maghanda taga MM.   However expers allayed fears because they say that West Valley fault and Leyte portion of Philippine fault are distant and not inter connected.

What has happened to the rebuilding of Samar Leyte one year after?

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Moving Forward from Interaksyon

From GMA network - rebuilding the ruins

Yesterday marked first year anniversary of the onslaught of typhoon Hainan (Yolanda) in Samar Leyte.

We lost a lot of lives, and structures.  However, the ship that was swept by the storm surge, is a silent witness to the fury of the storm, and the seeming inability to fully rehabilitate the damage stricken areas.

It is far from over.  A number still live in tents, and people are without jobs, and life is not yet normal for most.

Many are questioning the accounting of donation to the typhoon victims.  Many feel that the govt could have done more.

Do we need more help from govt, or more self help and more entrepreneurship from the victims?

Do not be a victim.   Are we always a victim.  ARe to be helped or are we here to help?

From Bangkok Post


Resettlement at Tanauan, Leyte

Operation smile will provide shelter repair kits for Leyte typhoon victims; so has Habitat for Humanity

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Tiendesitas, Pasig City, December 10, 2013

 

I had a business meeting with our Joint Venture Partners and one of them, Dr  James is a cosmetic surgeon, and is member of operation smile.org.   (As you know, they operate free on children with cleft chin worldwide for free, so that they can smile again) They will be donating $100,000 for the Supertyphoon Yolanda victims.  They are now doing away with relief packs, water rice. the usual food and relief donation.

They thought, Dr. James thought that they will be donating housing kit, each worth P10,000 be shipped from Cebu. What the people need now is shelter.  The $100,000 will be good for about 400 housing kits (that is what the Melinda Gates foundation did for the Habagat victims in our place)

Providing sheleter repair kits - from CNN

ShelterBox was already in the Philippines providing shelter after the 7.2 earthquake that hit Bohol on October 15. They are now expanding their operations to provide tents and essential equipment for families left homeless after Typhoon Haiyan. You can support their work in the Philippines either online or by calling 1-941-907-6036.

Habitat for Humanity is providing shelter repair kits to help survivors rebuild their damaged homes. You can support this work by donating from the Philippines to their Re-Build Philippines Fund or from the U.S. by contributing to their Disaster Response Fund. You can also make a donation by phone at 1-800-HABITAT.

Habitat for Humanity has allready provided 5,000 shelter repair kits in the supetyphoon Yolanda damaged areas. It plans to distribute 30,000 more. More than a million lost their homes from the supertyphoon  The kits contain plywood, lumber, galvanized iron sheets, a hammer, a saw and nails. In addition to distributing the kits, Habitat provides training on safe building practices. The shelter repair kits fast track rehabilitation and recovery of typhoon victims by giving them hope - by having restored their homes instead of living in tents or barracks (Obama?)

God bless their souls and many thanks.  May you believe more in what Andrew Carnegie once said

(For other businessmen, Andrew Carnegie, a steel magnate and one of the early millionaires in US said that "one of the biggest disgrace is to die with plenty of money"

 

Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) is indeed the moment of truth, the defining moment for the "Tuwid na Daan" of this regime!

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Rizal, Philippines  | December 2, 2013

 

The comments of Christianne  Amanpour of CNN to the President during their interview, post Yolanda typhoon crisis, still ring clearly in my ears " How your respond to this crisis, defines your Presidency"  as he was embarrassed by apparent grasp of reality on the ground.

As I got the other stories from somebody whose relatives were victims of the typhoon  (Inside story of the Typhoon Haiyan devastation)  there were several incidents that may not speak well of the rule of the national govt:

1,  The staging of relief distribution;

2.  The repacking of relief goods by the government agencies.

3.  The military commandeering the relief goods for personal use of disposition.

4.   The grandstanding of the Presidency with the LGU Mayor Alfred Romualdez

5.  The military men leading the civilian in commandeering private goods for personal use (the military were in bonnet as seen in TV and fully armed)

It is the time for compassion rather than greed.  How the people in the govt, representing the national government really really reflects zillions the values, the mores of the present govt, and whether the leadership now, has made a dent on how we run things here, especially during crisis.

 

A convenient way to donate to Typhoon Yolanda victims

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Rizal   Philippines  |  December 2, 2013

I just learned from an announcement in ANC that an online gift giving portal has reinvented itself to help generous individuals send donation to typhoon victims in Eastern Visayas.  I did not get the name correnctly but it should be www.regalo.com.ph   You can select packs of P200, P500, 1,000 and they will be delivered to the typhoon affected areas.

I think this is a better and secured way to donate.  Donating to a well known national NGO is not safe because the friend we talked to last November 30,2013 said that the NGO personnel have been known to :   1.  repack the gift packages,   2.  bring home the donation packages.  Whew.  I hope this hearsay is not true.  We sent our donation through the mass media companies spearheading the donation

Inside story of the devastation by Typhoon Haiyan in Leyte

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Manila Philippines, November 30, 2013

We met with our construction contractor for labor tonight.  He just arrived from Leyte and he has been there since November 13, 2013 to assist his relatives who were victims of Typhoon Haiyan.  He brought to assist his stricken relatives 50 relief packs and it cost him about a P100,000.  He had many interesting stories to tell regarding the situation there:

Some relief goods distribution were just for a show

Not all were given relief goods.  Those lines which were deemed to be full of people in same household were not given anymore.  After photo ops, relief goods that were given were retrieved/recalled.    Some relief packs were repacked (what for?)

Relief goods even as of this date have not reached the intended beneficiaries;   why?

Some container goods were kept in warehouses and remained undistributed and heavily guarded in warehouses of local officials.  What for?

Commandeered by the military?

He alleges that some relief goods carried by helicopters c/o the military were not 100% delivered;  some were taken for personal use of the military personnel.  Some military men were behind the pilferage of fuel in tanks (the guys in bonnet were encouraging the people to pilfer the gasoline in underground trunk?  why?)

We can see generosity and cruelty of people in times of crisis

There was this townmate businessmen of this contractor who was hated before.  But he brought from Cebu 3 truckloads of relief goods costing several hundreds of thousands of pesos to distribute to the typhoon victims in his town.  On the other hand, there were rapes and robberies going on.  Abandoned cars and motorbikes are being strippped for parts.  There were wholesale theft of motorbikes in a store which was carried out clearly not in the name of survival.

There was even a band of robbers who shouted tsunami, and everybody ran away injuring many in the stampede that ensued.  That was a ruse for the 3 robbers to rob the vacant houses.  They were soon discovered and one of them was lynched, one was caught, and one ran away.

Gasoline is sold for 2x the price, construction materials are sold 2x their price that is why people cant rebuild their lost homes.  If only construction materials were made available at prevailing market price

Lack of strong leadership and management needed

Our friend really deplored the politicking that was going on, greediness, self interest, and cruelty that was going on and the inability of the public sector to control this and take charge. It will tell heavily on the elective officials if they will still stay in office

Logistics management, crowd control, leadership must be practiced and taught.   Many educated people only bring in cash, goods, and repacking labor to the table, but I guess we need good management practices in this kind of situation (and even morality and ethics)  Amanpour was right -  the actions here define the kind of people who lead and manage us.

Unbelievable devastation

From the stories he heard, the surge was more than 30 ft high.  And people were not prepared for that.  Many died from the ships that crushed their homes.  There were little tornadoes that tore the structures apart.  Would you believe that coconut trees were twisted by the strong wind?

I sat beside a Phil Navy rescuer who just came from Bohol and Leyte disaster

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PN rescuer from Bohol and Leyte tragedy

On the way to an appointment in Central Business District yesterday afternoon, I happenned to sit beside a bus a man who had  a back pack, wearing orange T shirt and many markings (which includes a paratrooper patch on it) on them, a tiny flash light attached to his divers watch, and a two way radio.  I remarked and asked question , "How was it in Leyte?" And he answered it was tiring.

Was there an op plan for clearing and dead body retrieval operations?

What did he do there?  Security, relief distribution?  No.  Retrieval of the dead.  He was being relieved to rest.  He had not been home since Bohol earthquake.  They were first responders to Bohol and then to Leyte.  It has been a long and difficult tour of duty. He lamented that there was no plan on say dead body retrieval operations. He is a native of Inabanga Bohol.

  He has to go back to Leyte after a week.

Are we prepared in MM just in case? Do they teach disaster preparedness in business school?

He asked me what do I do for a living?  I said I teach sometimes in a school of business.  He asked if we teach disaster management/response in the school.  I said no.  He said perhaps it should be.  He is worried about a 7.2 magnitude  earthquake preparedness in MM.  Are there rescue clearing operations in place?  I said that as far as I know.  There is.  May be it is time to review and rehearse the rescue people.  And have regular drills?

On parting, I shook his hand, I saluted him and I said, " The country and I thank you for the wonderful job that you did for our brothers who lost during the tragedies, and he must keep doing such a thankless and good job."  I hope that was consolation for  job well done at his level.          

Enforcement of laws vs looting is difficult in extraordinary times - Sec de Liman

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 Taking more than what they need?  Technically theft?

There have been news about looting in Tacloban, and talk about declaration of martial law in the affected areas to enforce law and order.  All ready, ABS CBN  is investigating rumors of armed men shooting evacuees (which was later found out to be false)  The mass burial was allegedly to have been disrupted by gunfire.   There were also allegations that armed men (NPA) are supporting the massive looting that is going on.

Strictly enforcing the law vs looting in extraordinary times is difficult - Sec de Lima of DOJ

Here is the transcript of the news.

Strictly enforcing the laws, including penal laws on looting (technically, theft or robbery) during extraordinary times such as in times of calamity is easier said than done,” De Lima said.
De Lima pointed out that application of laws should be tempered with "compassion, mercy or liberality," taking into account the situation of victims who have no food to eat.
"What is imperative is real and physical presence of authorities, both local and national, to maintain peace and order,” she said.
Theft committed during the occasion of fire, earthquake, typhoon, volcanic eruption or any other calamity, vehicular accident or civil disturbance is punishable under Article 310 of the Revised Penal Code.
Hundreds of policemen and soldiers have been deployed to restore peace and order in the city. Malacañang said on Sunday that the situation is now under control, thinning chances of declaration of martial law.
The Constitution only allows the President to impose martial law if there is an invasion or rebellion. These conditions do not exist in Tacloban, de Lima said.
De Lima said the declaration of both state of emergency and a state of calamity is enough to address the situation in affected areas including breakdown of law and order. (Sunnex)

Posts have been made at this site that looting per se is not to be considered theft, as alleged in US situation post Katrina;  it is a survival instinct in the face of breakdown of technology and delivery of basic services.  However, taking only items for survival are justified probably, but not taking more than you need, including taking plasma TV or appliances (we saw footages of this in the TV)



 
Do you need the machine to survive?


 
Survival instincts?


 
Will businessmen leave these areas?


Huli?!



Soldiers guarding the malls/stores this time.  But the pictures of looting are discomforting

Looting reported in Tacloban City; 10000 feared dead as a result of Typhoon Yolanda onslaught

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From GMA News | November 9, 2013 7:49 pm

                         
                                   Looting post Katrina

Some 150 SAF PNP officers were sent to Tacloban in the wake of reports of looting of groceries and fast foods in the city.  The chaos was attributed to the low visibility of the PNP and military after the typhoon onslaught.  This looting was similar to the aftermath of the typhoon Katrina.  There was a report of widespread looting in Lousiana after the typhoon.

Here is the quote from GMA news report:

 "

The streets of Tacloban City in Leyte were in chaos Saturday as several residents began looting grocery stores and breaking into shops for food and other basic items they needed to survive in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda.

 

Video footage recorded by the team of GMA News correspondent Jiggy Manicad showed several men breaking into what appeared to be the storage area of a grocery store in the city and grabbing as much bread and softdrinks bottles as they can get.

 

Manicad said some residents have even resorted to forcibly entering fast food shops and destroying ATMs to get food and cash.

 

Looting in Tacloban City has been attributed to low police and military presence in the area after the typhoon, Manicad said. 

 

"Sa lawak ng pinsalang idinulot nitong bagyo, masyadong manipis yung pagpapakalat ng awtoridad para i-handle yung sitwasyon kaya't ganito na ang nangyayari [dito], kanya-kanyang diskarte na, partikular na dito sa lungsod ng Tacloban," he said.

 

Manicad said the lone policeman he saw in the area where looting was taking place was powerless to stop the residents because he was outnumbered and people were already desperate for food and other necessities."

 

Those who learned of the looting are hesitant to help.  However the other points of view is that looting is not necessarily stealing but a way to survive;  the infrastructures and the govt has failed.  If the "looters take only what they need to survive, then that is just a an answer for desire to survive.  If they take electronics of a 42 inch LED tv, then that is stealing.

 

Calamities bring out the best and worst in people. Looting is not one of the best that should come out of our people. It was shameful to watch our Visayan kababayan doing that.  The international communities I am sure viewed that.  We are not animals.  We are above the solons and the NGOs being charged and investigated at the Senate and elsewhere. Where is the dignity and Christian Values?  Difficulties does not give excuse to disobey the ten commandments (Bishops?)

Is looting when there are no supplies justified?   

Promise of aid, and concern of kababayan is very admireable.

President Pepe Mujica was very right in saying that those are poor are those whose needs are not satisfied.

 Is obtaining supplies in order to survive stealing? Or just a survival instincts?   PNP bosses must read this link so that they can be properly guided.