Many find such a failure to implement a disaster-management plan a disaster in itself, considering that, as per the allegation of Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had used a large portion of her emergency and calamity funds for her travels abroad, where she and her entourage spent millions on expensive dinners.
“Mrs. Arroyo, who designated herself ‘climate change czar,’ should be held accountable for lacking in genuine policies and programs for mitigating climate change impacts and for mismanaging funds for emergencies and disasters,” said Clemente Bautista of the environment group Kalikasan-PNE. Arroyo, he added, should also be held liable “for promoting and pursuing environmentally destructive practices such as mining, logging, and land-use conversion. All of these hasten and aggravate the effects of climate change.”
Another group, the Philippine Climate Watch Alliance (PCWA), assailed Arroyo for failing to implement honest-to-goodness measures to deal with the effects of climate change. (Read sidebar: Ondoy and Climate Change)
“Scientists, experts and even the basic sectors have warned that the Philippines will experience extreme weather events, floods, landslides and worsening poverty because of climate change,” said Meggie Nolasco, PCWA’s spokesperson. “This should have prompted the Arroyo government to map out plans and policies to lessen and help its people adapt to these problems.” However, she said, “these warnings were left unheeded by the government.”
Juanico, of the University of the Philippines, said the Philippines needs an effective and compassionate political leadership. “With that type of leader, even if we have limited resources, we can make do and deal with calamities more effectively,” he said. A weak national leadership, he said, does not invite cooperation and does not encourage discipline among the public.
And in a calamity-prone and poor country like the Philippines, “an ineffective leader,” Juanico said, “is a disaster in itself.” (With a report from Alexander Martin Remollino / bulatlat.com)
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The Philippines is NOT overpopulated. If there are shortages and lack of education it is because resources are wasted through massive corruption, economic mismanagement, greed, indiscriminate debt servicing, and plain bad governance. There are many other countries with bigger populations, higher population densities, and less natural resources, yet they can manage. Quite clearly, population is NOT the culrpit.
The Philippines has more than enough resources to clothe, house, and feed everyone. But we cannot access it and produce more because of man-made causes. Population has nothing to do with it.
Don't blame it all to the government!
Why do we have a number of poor people in the first place?
Every time there is a move for population control, certain sectors of the society will contradict and vote against it. Some will even accuse you of being evil/anti-life/anti-Christ.
POverty is a direct result of overpopulation and lack of education. Why do we permit families to produce offsprings when in fact they can't even sustain their own lives?
You may say argue that it is the government's responsibility to provide education and jobs. Yes, I definitely agree!
But with the current growth rate, it s impossible to achieve. With a ratio of 10:1, children born versus jobs created, I think we are dreaming of progress and we could never realize that.
Is it fair to tolerate these poor fellows to multiply and then pass the burden to the government? Ang swerte naman saiguro ng buhay na ganun?
I definitely believe that we should review our policy on population.
It was so sad looking at this events,we can blame everybody but we can blame mainly ourselves,always putting inept governments,stupid,greedy politicos,we ourselves are guilty for not looking past our coffers & our needs ,and see what really is going on around us and get involve…..we should!!