By MARILYN MANA-AY ROBLES, VERA Files
The week past was very revealing. Filipinos again displayed resilience in the midst of tragedy. As the floods came and swept away treasured material possessions people grinned and bore it out. Some were unable to have food for days and shivered in the cold. Even the untimely death of loved ones buried in mud was taken as mere fate. Could something have been done to prevent or reduce the effect of this calamity?
Yes, something could have been done. We have a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) if you need help. They operate 24/7.
The hotlines of NDRRMC are 911-1406, 912-2665 and 912-5668.
I called NDRMMC on August 8 after I received a Municipal Advisory via text that classes were being suspended until Friday, August 10 because dams will release water and that Meralco will cut off power in Metro Manila, etc. I dialed 912-5668. A young man took my call. I inquired about the veracity of the text message. Politely, I was told it was a hoax. I felt lucky. Hotlines are always busy. I dialed only once. I even got a reassuring reply.
August 10, Friday. I received an emergency call from the caregiver of my bedridden brother, a retired police general. He lives in Olivas Subdivision, San Fernando, Pampanga. Despite the fact that my brother’s house is elevated enough, flood waters of unimaginable levels, continued to rise. Not even the phenomenal Ondoy caused this much flood levels! The caregiver was able to ensure the safety of my brother. However, their provisions had run out. Another day and they would go hungry. They needed relief goods immediately.
I called 912-5668 again. This time it was busy. I dialed 912-2665. A young lady from the radio room took my call. I talked about the situation of my brother. She said Pampanga is under NDRRMC Region 3 and its head is Director Josefina Temoteo. She gave me the two mobile numbers of Director Temoteo. She advised me to call the Director directly so my problem could be addressed immediately. She then asked if I would like to speak to a DSWD representative as there was one around. I spoke to Imee. She took all the details about my concern. Several minutes later she updated me through a text message that she had already called the Office of the Civil Defense of Region 3 regarding my problem. Nice job, I told myself.
I then contacted Director Temoteo. To my surprise, she was on the line! I informed Director Temoteo of my concern. She asked me to text the address and contact number of my brother. I did. Minutes later I received a message from her. “Nai-forward ko na po text nyo sa DSWD3. Sinabi ko po na paki-prioritize. (I have forwarded your text tp DSWD3. I told them to make it a priority.) ” I could cry.
Morning of August 11. Relief goods were not distributed yet. I learned from people in Pampanga that the flood water is still too deep. I was informed relief goods come when the flood has subsided a bit. The San Fernando main road was still waist deep. Olivas subdivision was in a far worse situation.
I called Director Temoteo at past 3 in the afternoon. I was concerned about their relief operations for Olivas Subdivision. The waters have receded somewhat. Director Temoteo informed me she had discussed my brother’s condition and situation with PCSupt Edgardo Ladao, Region 3 director. At 3:42 Director Temoteo sent this message, “wag na kayong mag-alala. Darating na ang tulong sa olivas maya maya. (Don’t worry. Help will be in Olivas in a little while.)” My eyes was wet with tears.
I thanked Director Temoteo profusely as I could not believe that my request for assistance could be acted on immediately. I am a nobody but still I was given attention and importance. Director Temoteo’s reply is truly touching, “ Wala pong anuman. Serbisyo lang po. Tulungan po tayo ng DSWD 3, PNP, OCD at Philippine Army troops na magdedeliver ng goods doon, not only to General Mana-ay (of course siya po ang pinaka-priority) but for the other residents of Olivas Subdivision as well na kailangang bigyan ng tulong. Salamat din po sa impormasyon. (Don’t mention it. This is just service. DSWD, PNP, OCD and Philippine Army troops will deliver the good there not only for General Mana-ay (of course, he is the priority) but also for other residents of Olivas Subdivision who need help. Thank you for the information).”
I have grown skeptical of many things in life. But my recent interlude with the NDRRMC taught me that things do work despite some hindrance here and there. The present government may not be that great but one of its agencies implements a system worth commending.
Call NDRRMC hotlines. The phone works. Its people too.
(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)
I always believe that with enough good people, nothing is beyond Doable…even with limited resources if they are utilized to the Max…In my experience as it happened in regularity as the clockworks, when the forecast of snow storm is approaching, we always expect chaos…but hot-lines are manned 24 hours…patrols out in the street to make sure the ‘street’ people are gathered and brought to hostels…hundreds of machineries are strategically position to wait for the eventuality and business will be normal, albeit a little delay in most anything…of course there will be thousands of collision, mostly fender benders as people will never learned unless it is the hardest way…(told you to slow down to the road condition)and all utilities companies will recall all employees to report for duty to make sure that every call for outages, heating breakdowns and people trapped are attended immediately…because if anyone lost his life unnecessary will be a marching call for a very expensive Public Inquiry…and followed by a very expensive measure to be “studied” and put into action…
That was how the Governments came up with a comprehensive, very detailed, Continuing Flood Control, erosion prevention and Conservation when 82 Lives were lost in October of l954…there will be flooding as we know, it will happen in the best of times, but more than enough has been done and is still being done, that no one will unnecessary lost his life due to flooding…that was the vows of the Leaders back in l954 and they were being fulfilled.
A case of practice makes perfect?
“Hotlines are always busy.”
You said it. The most notorious is Meralco during brownouts.
It takes patience to work, nice article.
The stark difference between this and the previous administration lies in the motivations of the appointing powers. When you select and assign officials to help in better governance; they do their work with pride and diligence. When you select and assign officials because of what they did in the previous election; then they waste no time shamelessly stealing the people’s money because they see it as a reward for past services rendered.
Great! I just hope this continues since we’re in for a few more emergencies.
super like…
The difference is between Night and Day…It seems a lot of things have changed for the better.. and the expectations have also become higher…kaya marami pa ring pagpuna…Whe people praise the good things they do it only helps them to try harder and do more good
Pagasa gets a lot of flak too put compared to years before, they had very little capabilities…It has improved a lot…..problema nila ay ang communication skills. Di nila mapabot ang taya ng panahon sa simpleng wika.
Marilyn Robles forwarded to me this text message she got from Director Temoteo:
“‘Josie gud am. Ang galing ng write up ni marilyn robles! Congrats and keep up d gud work!”
“good am po Ma’am Robles. Nagisnan ko po ang sms na ito from Usec Ramos, nakakataba po ng puso at mas lalong nakakainspire. Bagamat hindi ko pa po nababasa ang write-up alam ko pong maraming kamanggagawa ko sa pamahalaan ang maiinspire din sa inyong isinulat. Muli po maraming2 salamat at magandang umaga.”