Saturday, December 30, 2006 Carvajal: Between fatalism and corruption By Orlando P. Carvajal Break Point
The fire in Ormoc that killed a score of people and the carnival ride that was fatal to a young girl were, like so many that happen more often than is desirable in this country, accidents waiting to happen. Like all the others, both tragedies will also merit so much bureaucratic attention and with the same results. The negligence and corruption that caused them will go back to normal levels after a scapegoat has been found but allowed to get away with nothing more than the equivalent of a whack in the behind.
I agree that an investigation is in order every time such an accident happens.
But I cannot agree that the investigation should be conducted by the government agency responsible for safety and accident prevention. If the government is really sincere in protecting the people it should look into the competence and honesty of our protection and safety agencies.
Take the fire in Ormoc. The Bureau of Fire Protection claims they have well-trained and capable people in the area.
Unfortunately, they mean well trained only to write a full report on the incident because they are still going to investigate whether the owner of the store violated some rules in our building code. Evidently they were not trained to do this before an accident happens. Or if they did inspect the building for fire safety, then why does the store not have enough exits as survivors now claim?
The same is true with the Marikina accident. I heard the owner claim on TV that the ride has been inspected by the pertinent government agency. But now after the accident the talk is about a faulty construction that caused the octopus ride to break off and make its fatal plunge. The owner is reportedly now in jail but what about those who inspected or did not inspect the ride?
And who is to blame for the many fatal motorcycle crashes, the dead rider only or also the policeman who looked the other way when the former went by? Moreover, who allowed the use of helmets that are no helmets at all? Our safety officials should specify how crash resistant a helmet has to be and then enforce it strictly if they really want to prevent fatal crashes.
The anatomy of accidents in this country lies between the fatalism of our people and the corruption in our public service culture. It is common knowledge that for a little grease money some of our regulators or protectors would readily look the other way in the event of a violation.
The investigation of all accidents should, therefore, include the government agency responsible for preventing the accident. Otherwise, between the fatalism of our people and the corruption in these agencies, we will continue to have an inventory of accidents waiting to happen.
