Prepare for ‘Rolly’

By Leonardo Micua

 

AS typhoon ‘Rolly’ was about to make a landfall in the eastern part of Luzon, it suddenly crossed in my mind that if only typhoons can sweep the coronavirus that had been ailing our nation, we’d rather have the howler return COVID-19 to China where it came from.

Of course, we are just kidding. We know that the stronger the typhoon is, the greater is the chance for the coronavirus to spread to our countrymen. This is because those in the path of the typhoon will most likely run to their nearest evacuation centers where observance of social distancing would be non-existent.

While weathermen said ‘Rolly’ is packing a center wind of 185 kph and ruled out it developing into a super typhoon, it ‘d still be pretty strong and will surely cause much damage to crops, infrastructures and lives.

So, with evacuees in sardine-packed situation in schoolhouses and town gymnasiums, brace ourselves for the new spike of new active COVID-19 cases as soon as Rolly’ exits.

The other bad news from Kapamilya Channel on Friday was that another low pressure area, which is likely to develop into another storm, was spotted in the Pacific Ocean. If that turns into another storm, we will again have serious problems.

There are indications, according to the report, that the two typhoons might even merge and if it happens (and I hope it will not), a large area in Luzon, including those already devastated by ‘Quinta’ and ‘Pepito’, will be at great risk.

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In the local scene, I shudder to think where the city government will bring the evacuees if ‘Rolly’ hits Dagupan, after the hizzoner converted the Dagupan City Astrodome as a temporary isolation facility for COVID-19 positive persons who are asymptomatic?

In the past, the Astrodome was the most convenient place to evacuate residents from flooded areas since Dagupan has no permanent evacuation center yet, except in Salapingao that was built during the past city administration.

But, of course, the city gods can readily order the different public schools to open their doors to the evacuees since these are not being used anyway for face-to-face instruction. Remember that many areas in Dagupan, especially the downtown area, readily come under water this rainy season due to the rise of tidal water from the nearby Pantal River.

These frequent tidal floods have already exacted much pressure and inconveniences on city residents but the city administration was never close to its promise to finally end the floods.

Even M.H. Del Pilar Street fronting SM Dagupan is virtually a flowing river every time there is heavy rain and high tide.

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By the way, I joined Congressman Toff de Venecia when he visited San Fabian where he gifted his constituents, particularly front liners with facemasks and face shields.

His constituents were ecstatic as ever when they saw Cong Toff whose passion for public service has never waned, unlike someone from Fuga Island who is reportedly salivating for his (Toff’s ) throne yet never made an impact on the lives of the people of Pangasinan.

A fellow journalist told me that the fellow never tasted any victory in his three previous political adventures where he was a resident, so he will get flak in a district that considers him alien to the place.

By the way, until Toff visited Barangay Carael, we wouldn’t have known that a new diversion road from Binmaley to Dagupan has been started by the DPWH. The project will soon include a bridge spanning across the Calmay River that will connect Barangay Carael to the De Venecia Expressway.

We recall when the DPWH, during  the incumbency of Mayor Belen Fernandez, was conducting a boring test along the Calmay River, Mayor Belen  went to inquire and learned that the DPWH was intending to build a bridge that will span across river Calmay.

Belen was, of course, ecstatic. She knew that a bridge span will finally connect most if not all the isolated island barangays in Dagupan City, a dream most island residents had long cherished.

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Road-clearing nationwide will resume November 16 this year per memorandum circular of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año.

This means that those salivating to put up baratillo along the sidewalk of their major thoroughfares must re-think it if they should continue with their money-making venture that will surely be an eyesore.

But watch them insist on their crazy adventure if they01 still get a high mark in road-clearing.

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