By Farah G. Decano

 

THE law, Republic Act 10121, provides that each local government unit (LGU) must set aside 5 percent of its annual budget to disaster and risk reduction management projects, programs, and activities. Seventy percent of such budget should be for disaster preparedness and 30 percent for quick response.  Only the latter fund requires the declaration of a state of calamity by the local sanggunian before it can be accessed. Any unexpended DRRM fund shall form part of a trust fund for five years which the LGU can always utilize.

After seeing the video of Bicolano public officials on a lifeboat and a surfboard distributing cash to their constituents who were in waist-deep floods, I could not help but wonder what happened to their disaster preparedness. Why did they decide to distribute cash when it cannot satisfy urgent needs the way food, water, and shelter would?

The presence and breadth of tropical cyclone Kristine in the region had been announced by PAGASA at least five days before it struck the Philippines. Why did the aforesaid Bicolano leaders continue with their vacation in Siargao and not personally oversee the preparations for the onslaught of Kristine?

If Mayor Belen Fernandez were an elected official in Bicol, she would have immediately called for a meeting with various department heads and barangay officials, evaluated the systems already in place, inspected the adequacy of evacuation centers, and checked the supply of food, water, and medical supplies for victims.  During my time as her city administrator, she even made sure that those in the evacuation centers were provided with health and hygiene packs, and blankets.  Nope, she did not leave her constituency to have fun someplace when storms were about to pass by Dagupan or anywhere close to it.  Distribution of cash was the last thing on her mind.

*          *          *          *

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or BBM should be advised to read Robert Greene’s 48 Rules of Power, if he has not yet done so.  He should be counseled about Rule Number 15, “Crush Your Enemy Totally,” so he could apply this to his treatment of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom Of Jesus Christ (KOJC) sect.  Said rule teaches the reader to take no pity on enemies because the latter will exact revenge when they regain their bearing.  It escapes me why President Marcos Jr. is handling the pastor with such gentleness.  He has nothing more to lose should he go all-out against the incarcerated sect leader because the latter has already declared his withdrawal of support.  

BBM should have just handed Pastor Quibiloy to the US government to face the labor and sex trafficking charges against him instead of letting him run for senator while in detention! By sending him to the US, the disgraced pastor would not be able to campaign to win a seat in congress.  BBM should not underestimate the power of KOJC sect whose members are willing to die for their pastor!

When the detained religious leader was recently invited to the Senate for investigation, BBM should have observed how some Senate members cowardly behaved. No woman Senator, except Senator Risa Hontiveros, arrived to inquire into the issues raised against Pastor Quiboloy, which were women’s rights concerns. Where were Senators Pia, Grace, Cynthia, and Nancy? It seems politicos are willing to swallow their principles in exchange for KOJC  members’ votes.  BBM must stop being nonchalant about the power this Pastor still wields over politicians. 

As of the moment, BBM is quiet about his further plans for Pastor Quiboloy.  I hope he is just following Greene’s Rule No. 35, “Master The Art of Perfect Timing,” in order to implement Rule No. 15.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments