Everybody Boy Scouts!

Boy Scouts have the motto “Laging handa”. The motto must also be for everyone – government and Church people in preparing for calamities. It may cost a lot of money in preparing for disasters but most would agree that it is far off better to lose money than lives.

The Church plays pivotal role when disasters strike. Most churches whether Catholic or not, stretch their arms to assist the victims. The Roman Catholic Church for example extends relief goods and medical missions to disaster-stricken areas. The Archdiocesan Social Action Center Director Fr. Leonardo A. Dublan in a dialogue with Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) said “The Church must also be ready to convert its churches to evacuation centers, open to all people needing help and without partiality and prejudice”.

On the other hand, Barangay 74-A resident Reyshiel Ann Alquizar said “Walay effort kay siguro dili man gud bahaonon among lugar. Walay program dito about disaster preparedness. Usually kawat ang ginatutukan sa barangay na maresolba”.

Joselyn Catao of Cabantian Deca Homes stressed “Wala mi gaprepare, wala pud nagaconduct ang barangay para sa disaster”.

In 2011 the tragic Matina flashflood claimed twenty-five lives. Nobody in that time suspected or even imagined that in a split second waters will wash away their properties and loved ones.

If the basic unit of government which is the Barangay doesn’t bother to conduct disaster preparedness programs, citizens won’t wonder why government officials are finger-pointing when calamities take toll.

Rowena Premacio of Matina said “Even if our Barangay doesn’t do anything we should be responsible for our own lives. Through mass media like television and internet we can gather some ideas on what to do if there will be a disaster. But for me the best preparation above all is to pray”.

In the Metropolis boarding houses and dormitories are sprouting like mushrooms. Many students from nearby provinces study in the city and rent a room or house. The safety of the students and other tenants are at stake if the owners do not respond to the standards provided by the government. A college student who is renting a room in Sobrecarey St and refused to be named quipped “Sa among boarding house kay wala koy nakita na fire extinguisher or building plan. Gubaaon na pud ang building. Tapos kung magpataas sila ug singil kay ura-urada”.

The City government side by side with the National government should regulate, monitor and secure the safety of the people. Disasters are everywhere. No one likes disasters inasmuch as nobody expects them. Preparedness, knowledge, proper information dissemination can make a whole lot of difference. It is not only the government’s duty to protect the welfare and safety of its citizenry but it is also an individual’s responsibility to prepare for anything that will happen…wanted or unwanted because ready or not calamities and disasters will befall in whatever form no one would dare imagine.