‘TOL VIEWS
Senator Francis Tolentino
The importance of disaster preparedness is, sadly, always best understood after countless lives have already been taken and communities already irreparably damaged. While some will argue that disasters and calamities cannot be predicted, particularly earthquakes, this is precisely the point in being prepared. If human science and technology fail to determine exactly when and where catastrophes will strike, the best way to be halfway toward safety is to be informed and prepared.
The damage caused by the recent 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Türkiye and Syria is undeniably extensive and is seen to rise even beyond $20 billion. Death tolls are already at 35,000 with continuing retrieval operations recovering more and more bodies under the rubbles. As world sympathy pours out for Syria and Türkiye, the physical and psychosocial recovery and rehabilitation will definitely be a shared national struggle. The tragic loss of life and resources has deeply wounded the people’s mind and spirit, leaving them scarred for life and haunted by the horrors of this utterly unfortunate event.
As earthquakes are natural calamities, we have had our own fair share of these in our history. The most devastating earthquake, known as the Moro Gulf Earthquake, happened on Aug. 17, 1976 in Southern Mindanao. The earthquake was recorded at magnitude 7.9, stronger but not as deadly as the recent Syria and Türkiye tremor. The Moro Gulf Earthquake reportedly claimed nearly 8,000 lives. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the country registers an average of 20 earthquakes per day many of which pass through unperceived. The average of felt earthquakes, on the other hand, is between 100 to 150 per year.
Some reports about the recent Syria and Türkiye tremor take an angle on the stability of structures in the extensively damaged areas to be a contributing factor in the destruction and death tolls. The vulnerability of old structures, and we do have many of these, and the provisions and compliance with building codes and other structure regulations is perhaps a valid perspective to consider in the formulation of earthquake preparedness plans and impact mitigation strategies. In addition to this, investments in research, development and technology as well as procurement of modern seismic equipment and facilities should also be among the priorities of the Phivolcs and Department of Science and Technology. In the pipeline for year 2023 in Phivolcs’s procurement program are projects which will enhance the agency’s technological capability, including the MOVE Fault Scientific and Technical Equipment, the REDAS or Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System, construction of unmanned seismic stations and rehabilitation of earthquake monitoring stations, among others. Improved technical capacity is a step forward toward preparedness and public safety.
Preparedness for any calamity requires not only the availability of facilities, equipment, and personnel for response and rescue operations and the provision of supplies for evacuation and relief. Preparedness requires as well a one-step ahead, inter-agency approach which will entail collaborative planning, capacity building, and perhaps resource and information sharing among agencies involved in disaster risk reduction and management. The reality is that catastrophes are beyond our limited human capacity for prediction and control. What is well within our purview is risk reduction. After all, reduction in risk is always parallel to reduction in loss. Planning and policy formulation in disaster management should thus take a closer, deeper look into risk reduction strategies, recalibrating and re-inventing if needed, and engaging all stakeholders in the work of ensuring public safety.