REPOST What Went Wrong, Philippines? Is it the lack of leadership? Is it the Philippines very own president? Super typhoon Haiyan had not just left the Philippines devastated and its people hapless. The Philippines had also been subjected to rounds of global criticism and worst, scrutinised by its very own people. On Nov 11, 2013, Philippine President Benigno Aquino Jr gave his statement. (text translated in English) As Yolanda battered the country, electricity and communications were lost in many areas. This affected not only the communications of those who want to ensure that their families are safe, but also the coordination of our relief efforts. For us to give the aid that is required, we need to know what is needed in each area; and we had difficulty obtaining this data. There were also a number of local governments that, because of the extent of the destruction, were paralysed, because among those who fell victim to the storm were their own personnel and officials. Just think: we returned to a situation where information had to be spread through word-of-mouth-no TVs, cellphones, or Internet; stores and establishments were closed; it was difficult to organise relief efforts. This was the root cause of the chaos that erupted in some areas. This is where the national government comes in. Instead of just cooperating and adding our efforts to that of communities, the national government must lead. The DPWH cleared roads blocked by the collapse of massive trees; all reported obstructions of roads have likewise been opened. In fulfillment of the requests of local officials, we sent 800 soldiers and policemen to Tacloban to restore peace and order. We have three repacking centers producing 55,000 family food packs every day; and I have already instructed Secretary Abaya of the DOTC to take charge of efforts to deliver relief goods where they are most needed. Mr Aquino was reassuring. However, 5 days after Mr Aquinos statement, came the controversial report from CNNs Anderson Cooper. Reporting on ground zero, Mr Cooper described what he saw - hundreds of victims were compelled to sleep at local airports, makeshift tents along the roads, or for some, sleeping right next to the dead bodies of their loved ones, under the rain, because bodies have not yet to be pick up. When I was in Japan, right after the tsunami there two years ago, within a day or two, you had Japanese defense forces going out, carving up cities into grids and going out on foot looking for people, walking through the wreckage. We have not seen that here in any kind of large-scale operation, said Mr Cooper. Mr Cooper was not the only one who can attest to the disparity of what the President said from what was really happening in Tacloban. One survivor of Haiyan had directly addressed a heated open letter to Mr Aquino, for the presidents poor judgement of putting the blame to the victims of typhoon Haiyan themselves. AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE FOR A LEADER THAT WILL SEND THEM A MESSAGE TO PICK UP THEIR BROKEN SPIRITS; AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE NEEDED ASSURANCES THAT YOU HAVE THEIR BACKS; THE ONLY THING YOU GAVE THEM, WAS A BIG @#$%%^ YOU TACLOBAN, THIS IS YOUR FAULT, DONT BLAME ME., Biboy Alimangohan wrote. The best leaders throughout history arent remembered because they prevented huge disasters, they are remembered because when disaster inevitably struck, they inspired and rallied the people. Im sorry Mr. President, but you failed us. You failed the people of Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Masbate and all the other provinces that had to face the last few disasters. On a final note, that casualty count you so callously keep referring to? Thats not just a number to us. That casualty count are family, friends, and neighbors that we will never see again. People we loved and cared about that we will never be able to laugh with or share a drink with. What we need from you right now, Mr. President, is an outstretched hand, not a big middle finger. - Havent the Philippine government learned its lesson? In a much recent interview with CNNs Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour, Mr Aquino acknowledged that the Philippines experienced at least 20 typhoons every year. And yet, was not ready each time. And as for the typhoon Haiyan, the government can only issue warnings beforehand - action depended on the public. Ms Amanpour asked Mr Aquino about his reaction on criticism against his government. I think you can ask all the governors of the areas that have been saying that our making them aware the dangers of the typhoon enabled them to move their population from danger areas into safer areas and thereby minimizing casualties. A lot of them with the exception of Leyte province, eastern and western Samar have reported practically of one or two or even zero casualties wherein normally when we have a typhoon, we will also have ships that were travelling that would have sunk casualties in the hundreds, probably merit too much attention. So the knowledge, the geo hazard mapping, the knowledge imparted to all of them enabled them to reduce the risk inherent in all the disasters that visit us, Mr Aquino said. - Philippines Close Family Tie While the foreign anchors attacked the news head on, local media were defensive, elusive, even critical of the outsiders point of view. Point in the case: local big-wig anchor Korina Sanchez was irked by Mr Coopers coverage of Tacloban. She was particularly irked by Mr Cooper saying that there was no significant government presence in Tacloban. Ms Korina Sanchez asked if Mr Cooper knew what he was talking about. Filipinos took their criticism against Ms Sanchez, saying while Mr Cooper was reporting live from Tacloban, Ms Sanchez sat comfortably at her studio fed with information from her researchers. And more importantly, Ms Sanchez was being attacked by her partiality - she is married to Mar Roxas, the Philippine Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government. Ms Sanchezs judgment might be blurred by her husbands political ambition to run as the countrys next president and her very own fairy-tale idea of becoming the next first lady. Mr Roxas was under fire for his reluctance to immediately respond to the calamity. As one Tacloban survivor said, he was a piece of shit. Mar Roxas and his body guards never helped us retrieve families trapped on the cottages on the hotel that we were staying or assisted in helping the wounded. They just walked around clean [and] tidy as if they couldnt be bothered. As for Mr Aquino, some local political analyst claimed that aside from logistic condition, Tacloban was suffering slow relief operations due to a long standing family feud between the Romualdez and the Aquinos - dating as far back as Philippine martial law regime of Ferdinand Marcos and the death of Benigno Aquino Sr. Philippine judicial system The list on why the Philippines judicial system errs during difficult times like this can go on and on. However, one appalling law from the Philippines is that relief goods, both from within the country and other countries, are subjected to local tax if these goods were not course through its Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or accredited private foundations. As for international monetary donations, these will also be subjected to a Value Added Tax unless these donations were coursed through the NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council). And so while foreign donations and aid pour in the Philippines, its Bureau of Internal Revenue will go after and impose taxes to those countries and institutions that did not follow this system. To contact the editor, e-mail: editor@ibtimes au.ibtimes/articles/522394/20131115/typhoon-haiyan-philippines-anderson-cooper-korina-sanchez.htm#.UoX8MNIbDmc
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 11:52:02 +0000
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