It's true – and it goes without saying – that the rebuilding of those ravaged and devastated by tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng” would extend far beyond the Arroyo administration and into the succeeding administration.

Damage to the country’s infrastructure as well as agriculture has been placed at more than P20 billion as of yesterday and reports said much more are yet to be determined.

Secretary Arthur C. Yap of the Agriculture Department said in a statement that crop losses might still rise as his office was still awaiting reports from at least seven regions in the Luzon area.

In the business sector, the damage has been estimated to reach as high as P5 billions but according to Edgardo B. Lacson, head of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the business community does not see this as reason to bring the country’s economic growth to a negative.”

In terms of human lives, the latest report put at 688 the number of people who perished in the floods.

Those who survived but just the same perniciously affected by the ravaging tropical storms count to probably hundreds of thousands, if not millions – from all walks of life but mostly from the very poor in Luzon, including Metro Manila.

Up to yesterday, floodwaters brought about by the succession of rains and strong wind remained high forcing relief operations to a halt for long hours particularly in some parts of central and northern Luzon.

What is pathetic is the possible shortages of food supplies in affected areas which is already sending alarm signals to local government officials, especially in Northern Luzon.

All these have produced murmur of discontent, so to speak, with both the public and the government worried over their possible effects on the country’s economic growth.

“The market will probably realize that the peso is quite expensive at these levels as the calamities are expected to slow growth and require substantial spending,” said Manila-based Banco de Oro Unibank strategist Jonathan Ravelas.

Central Bank Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo has said more moderate appreciation of the peso would help financial markets adjust “as the currency posted a sixth weekly gain” last week.

Lacson had earlier opined business damages would have no influence or effect on local economic growth,  at least during the current fiscal year.

The PCCI president said that, as a matter of fact, “there could be higher growth this year because of increased economic activities due to the reconstruction activities.”

Whatever the experts may say about the economy and its prospects for the future of the country amid the Ondoy and Pepeng phenomena, what count really are the realities of climate change that the people experienced these past days.

As far as the typhoons and storms are concerned, all those predictions are just that – predictions without any basis because in the first place, Ondoy and Pepeng just happened without precedence.

What is certain is that recovery may take place only after a long time.

Still, who knows Ondoy and Pepeng were just the beginning?

(zhern_218@yahoo.com)