Espinoza: Lack of concern

WEATHER disturbances that happen almost every month test the readiness of our government agencies, particularly the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) and its local counterparts, as well as the people, who sometimes disregard the warnings of the weather bureau.

Tropical depression Samuel is expected to hit Cebu today. Since yesterday, classes in public schools in all levels have been suspended and boats have not been allowed to sail. While weather forecasts state that Samuel is not a typhoon, it is expected to bring torrential rains.

This is the problem with new nomenclatures for weather disturbances. When I was growing up in my hometown in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, I never heard of the words tropical depression and storm surge. We were simply warned that a typhoon was coming and those living near the coasts were warned of tidal waves. Typhoons only came once or twice in a year.

Now, tropical depressions, storms or typhoons visit us often and weather and environmental experts blame climate change for this, so too uncontrolled use of our natural resources. Many miners, who are backed by some politicians, don’t care for the environment. All that they care about is their margin of profit. Only few mining companies comply with the laws.

I am not saying that we leave our natural resources unexplored. These God-given resources are for us to make use of and are for society’s development. That’s why we have mining and environmental laws. Sadly, these laws are hardly enforced.

The recent example was the landslide in Sitio Sindulan, Barangay Tina-an in the City of Naga that left 78 dead, five missing and hundreds homeless. It was caused by continuous rain and the giving in of the mountain, which is part of the mining claim of Apo Land and Quarry Corp. That landslide happened five days after an enormous landslide hit the mining town of Itogon, Benguet.

Apo has been part of Naga’s development. But the landslide could not be solely blamed on Apo. As early as 2008, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 came up with a geohazard map that identified Sitio Sindulan as a landslide-prone area.

The point I am raising here is the people’s lack of awareness of the danger posed by typhoons. It’s not only the government’s obligation but it is also everyone’s responsibility to seriously heed warnings.

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The election season is on even if the midterm polls will still be on May 13, 2019, tarps of some candidates for senators are already installed in different areas and candidates are doing the rounds in big cities. Sen. JV Ejercito, who is seeking reelection, met his friends in Cebu City and the friends of his friends last Saturday. In my talk with him, he somehow lamented the people’s short memory. He is not in the top 12 survey despite his clean record. Yet, those who are facing plunder charges are there.

Well, what do we expect from the voters. But how do we change this mindset? By educating the voters on who are the candidates that rightfully deserve our vote.