HUNGER AND THIRST IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM?

Knowing how to move in abnormal circumstances is the mark of a well-rounded personality, and most especially of an activist. Under the worse if not the worst circumstances as in what is happening in Tacloban, Leyte, hard hit by super typhoon Yoling, the officials of the Philippine government are being measured in terms of how and how fast they attend to the very basic needs of the victims in terms of food, shelter and safety, among other things. 

I think that bureaucratism has no place under these circumstances. Everyone has to act with speed to save lives. I heard over the radio that a girl child died because she had not eaten presumably since Friday. That means that the people have no other office nor officer to turn to at that time. Yet many millions of dollars in aid are pouring in. 

Question, how come this money has not been put to good use? Who is halting the immediate release of funds for buying food, water and transporting all basic necessities of the people?

The Visayas islands is just that -- island after island after island. We glory in their pristine sands and deep blue seas but that is all past now because we have seen the wrath and anger as the waves -- so called storm surge-- the waters rising up to 15 feet. Now that does not look enthralling anymore as a scenic come-on for tourists. 

We have not really conquered the problem of connecting these islands so that they could be navigable without much danger and easily link peoples, as well as transport goods and services. Now I am imagining an underground tunnel that would link all these islands so that even four-wheeled vehicles could cross them. Will that be possible in the future? 

The scenes on TV showing how the people cried and pitifully asked for food sent me shivers.  I think it is the height of demeaning the humanity of the people. After five days, the people are still crying for food, water and the bagging (burying) of the dead. Why so difficult to perform tasks at this time? What is hampering the movements of officials, not money, but a work ethic that is desk-bound. 

I can only offer suggestions although I have no clear basis nor actual experience of the situations the people are in:

1. Have rice centers all over the affected areas, where groups of volunteers would be cooking rice all day and all night long to feed the people;

2. Have water stations where they can drink clean water at any time. Digging wells and putting anti-bacterial tablets in them could be a corollary activity;

3. Children's concerns centers where people can bring their children. These centers should have pediatricians and ready food and milk for children to drink.

4. Distributing bags for bodies lying around could encourage people to go "Bayanihan" and lessen the pressures on the Department of Health or any other agency that is tasked to bury the dead;

5. 24-hour message center or three-numbered phones and celfones where donors could call to ask how they can send in help or donate whatever they can, goods and services; 

6. The telecoms have already set up free calling stations which is really good and as well, TV and radio stations are accepting calls from victims to inform their relatives where and how they are. 

7. Always have clear instructions when and where food will be forthcoming. I think looting and frustrations will be reduced if the people are assured that they will not go hungry for a long time and that food will be readily accessible. 

8. For those victims who choose to go somewhere else, instead of stay in the typhooned areas
times of departure of vehicles, whether airplanes or land transports, must be made available. 

9. Looting is not a pardonable act. We must conscientize the looters. 

10. All government warehouses of food, of rice must be opened and distributed without preconditions. 

11. Scientists should be tapped to give us concrete solutions -- not only to predict typhoons, not only how to act when a typhoon is coming  but to discover inventions that could deter typhoons from becoming too strong for people to handle.

I remember in 1976 when the Pantabangan dam suffered from 5-day rains and I was there as part of a seminar-workshop on how to be a social worker under the UP ISWCD auspices. The tombs slid down the dams, the houses cracked, those which were built for residents who had vacated the old Spanish era town of Pantabangan which was submerged in waters to give way to the dam. 

The Red Cross came and people crowded in droves to get their share of food and clothing. We cautioned the people to stay in their evacuation places and wait for the staff to come and give them what is due to them. So the distribution became very organized. 

What is happening in Tacloban right now is showing that governance is on a "ouido" basis. The officials are stepping too slowly to address the needs of the people. We need fast-thinking and creative-minded officials who should be able to think beyond the box. 

To experience hunger and thirst in this new millenium is a great aberration in running any country.