IS YOUR AREA READY FOR 'CHEDENG?'

With tropical storm ‘Chedeng’ fast approaching, we had better start finding out the following boys and girls, from both the national and local government levels:

The locations and number of evacuation centers in your towns or cities in case of risky floods

The evacuation coordinators in your areas and how will it be conducted, as well as the operational readiness or the speed at which it can be started and conducted.

The readiness of the evacuation center.

The availability of foodstuffs and other relief goods from your local government, as well as contingency plans in case these won’t be enough for the evacuees.

The BUIDGET for disaster management of the local government – HOW MUCH IS LEFT and where are the rest, and documentary proof of the expenditures.

FLOOD CONTROL and DISASTER PREPAREDNESS programs or measures of your towns or cities – what has been done or is anything being done.

If none, your TAXES are in BIG TROUBLE, guys. Better start asking your mayors, or even your governors, WHY and where’s the budget for disaster preparedness and flood control.

And don’t forget, we should not spare the national government from queries on flood control. Especially the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Together, let’s start asking the DPWH if it has FINISHED EVEN ONE FLOOD CNTROL PROJECT almost a year after the Aquino Administration assumed power.

If yes, what and where, for how much and who are the beneficiaries? If none, WHY?

A common cause of floods is clogged waterways like esteros and drainage systems.

Question: How many de-clogging or cleaning operations has the DPWH conducted, NATIONWIDE, where and when was the last? If it’s only a handful, say five or 10, WHY and what is the problem?

As to the other causes of floods like illegal logging and squatters or informal settlers blocking portions of some rivers and other waterways, what has been accomplished by the government? Details please, if any.

Disaster preparedness is more multi-faceted than this blog, boys and girls. Let’s do our share, and be ready, always. 30