Remembering Ondoy, and the need to prepare for calamities
By John Tria
#MINDANAO
Many of us may have forgotten the fact that the destructive tropical storm Ondoy hit Metro Manila and nearby areas around this time 15 years ago. I happened to be living in Metro Manila. The day it struck was a typical rainy day. It started with light rain progressed and intensified as the morning wore on. By the afternoon the metro was drenched and many areas were inundated, the ominous progression of a memorable storm. As I was living in a condominium and therefore unaffected by flooding, family members whose house was flooded sought shelter in our unit for a few days.
Visiting their flood-affected house some days later, I was shocked to realize just how high the floodwaters rose within the bungalow. The clear marks of the almost chest-high flood formed a line on the walls inside the house, composed of small debris and dirt. It may have taken time for these waters to subside, giving these floating materials the chance to stick to these walls. Much of the furniture was permanently damaged. Trinkets that were once on shelves lay on the floor, the flood floating them out of position.
In the immediate aftermath of Ondoy, typhoon Pepeng followed, bringing more rain to areas already affected. This was followed in 2011 by a devastating storm named Sendong affecting northern Mindanao, and typhoon Pablo hurting the Davao region the year after. Both places are not exactly typhoon-prone. Super typhoon Haiyan hurt the Visayas in November 2013, a few weeks after a strong earthquake hit Bohol.
These extreme weather events and natural calamities over the four years after Ondoy was seared on the minds of many, leaving some Filipinos like me with new realizations.
The first is that since many cities are located along coasts, we must build and live way above sea level. As a result, the market for residential condominiums rose in Metro Manila. Before Ondoy, condominiums were not exactly top-of-mind for home buyers. Nowadays, when I drive through the Metro Manila Skyway from north to south, I see clusters of residential condominiums all over the metro.
The second is that many will need to prepare for extreme weather events and other possible calamities with sufficient food, water, and other necessities. The Philippines is one of the world’s worst places for tropical storms and other natural disasters, as we face the Pacific and lie on the Pacific Ring of Fire. A “go bag” is now a must. This includes possible evacuation to safer areas in case of flooding. Thus, the “bahala na" attitude will need to change. Long-term planning will be vital if we are to navigate weather uncertainties. This means preparing for contingencies.
This sense of preparedness extends to other possible uncertainties and disruptions in the current world. We all must be ready for any eventuality.
Mindanao airport updates
The Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City may see some upgrades soon. This is due to a Transaction Advisory Services Agreement recently signed by the government through the Department of Transportation and the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation. These upgrades will be good for the millions of users of the airport, which is seeing an increase in direct flights to different parts of the country. Likewise, a good number of users are now international travelers using the Mindanao gateway to reach Qatar, Singapore, Thailand, and China. Soon I hope to see a revival of direct flights to Manado, Indonesia, and even Malaysia.