Wake Up Juan!

It's obvious I have not updated my blog in nearly a month. The last post I wrote was the day before the Ondoy tragedy. And from that day on, it seems typhoons make the headlines in TV, print and online everyday.

From Ondoy to Pepeng to Ramil-- all in a span of less than a month. All extremely dangerous, with the latter having the possibility to develop into a supertyphoon. And all hitting Luzon, specifically the northern region.

If one thinks about it, these recent storms are not the first this year. Obviously their names suggest it is already the O, P and R (15th-17th storm). There were a dozen other storms that hit the country this year, but for some reason, the last 3 are the worst, so far.

The tragedies have so far left over 700 dead and millions others affected. It is a sad and depressing scenario. But on one hand, it is a major wake up call. Wake up call for the government and wake up call for the people.

If there are good things that the storms brought are the changes and improvements the government now is undertaking. Officials are now reviewing urban planning (which should have been done a long time). Officials are now restructuring disaster management control. Officials are now rethinking dam protocols. Officials are now examining flood control systems, garbage disposal systems and other solid waste management process.

On the other hand, citizens are also reviewing their own house garbage disposal. Citizens are now preparing for any storms. Citizens are now more choosy when it comes to buying homes. Many developers must now be more prudent when choosing locations for subdivisions.

A lot of new issues are suddenly brought out in the open because of the storms. Rehabilitation of the entire capital and nearby provinces will take a long time. Some say it is because of climate change. Some say it is because of bad waste management system. Some say it is because of dams. Some say it is because of the squatters. Whatever the resons are, the effect is just one: disaster. This is indeed a wake up call to everyone.