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Disasters reveal both the best and the worst in people. And no disaster has brought out both sides more than Typhoon Haiyan.
It is Day Seven of the national government’s response, and we see that distribution of much-needed aid has finally started only just started to move forward. The centres of attention: Leyte and Samar provinces in eastern Visayas. Tacloban City, considered to be the typhoon’s “Ground Zero”, is in the former.
It is already Day Seven of the national government’s response, and despite relief already trickling in, many are still hungry, tired and desperate. On November 13, a press conference was called, and in it, Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras announced the creation of an action plan for wide-scale relief operations. That was two days ago. Survivors have gone hungry for five days since Haiyan struck. Many survivors had already resorted to looting.
This is why so many are outraged: When government, which should have been the first responders, inspiration and initiator in operations like this, has to be prodded, pressured, even nagged by international media and the citizens it has pledged to serve. When certain government officials, which the people expect to act with a sense of urgency, resort to spin tactics. When these same officials show their lack of coordination in the inconsistencies of their statements.
But this outrage is also what has polarised the Filipino people. It has divided us into those that “support”, and those that “oppose.” Two opposite ends of the spectrum creating a huge, jagged tear in the fabric of bayanihan and pagkakaisa we pride ourselves to have so much of.
The question is how can we meet in the middle and mend the rift?
First, we state the facts. There’s no denying them: The country just weathered one of the worst storms in recorded history. Everyone was caught unawares as to the extent of Typhoon Haiyan. EVERYONE. We were blindsided by nature, and when the storm passed, nearly all of the Visayas region was off the grid: no communications, no power, no access.
Even Interior Sec. Roxas and Defence Sec. Gazmin, who were transported to Eastern Visayas to monitor the storm, were temporarily off the grid as cellphone reception was totally knocked out. Even the mayors of Tacloban, Guiuan, Hernani and God knows where else became victims, themselves. Reports say many towns were 90 to 100 percent destroyed; the death toll still escalating; the number of missing, including some local officials, still rising.
In short, the government was indeed, at that moment, paralysed.
What one end of the spectrum says is that we need to cut them some slack after having been incapacitated for a time. Now, government is moving. It is acting. And it is stretched thin.
They are correct. National government is acting. In all fairness, they have done what they can in the time and with the manpower and resources they have. To give credit where it is due: Social Welfare Sec. Dinky Soliman has remained in Tacloban since Nov. 11, coordinating efforts on the ground. Secs. Gazmin and Roxas were there since Nov. 8. Around a thousand troops and police were deployed to Ground Zero to secure the city amid reports of civil disorder. The Department of Health sent out personnel to take care of the injured. The Metro Manila Development Authority sent 200 volunteers to help in clean up and rescue operations. Even the president must be commended for addressing the nation on the evening of November 7 to prepare. Not to mention the thousands of volunteers DSWD has mobilized. There is also no doubt relief supplies have been prepositioned even before Haiyan hit: that is protocol.
The United Nations and British NGO Oxfam lauded the government for its efforts in disaster response. And a CNN report admits that like the Philippines, the US might not be able to withstand a storm this large.
That is why this side is outraged: When people do not think of the hardships each member of government has been enduring for the past seven days. When all they see are complaints when the government is working as fast as they can and on limited manpower. The nation, they say, cannot afford negativity at a time like this because it doesn’t help.
The opposite end of the spectrum, however, says government is not doing enough or it’s not doing anything. It is slow. It is uncoordinated. It is unprepared. It tries to spin facts. It hides truths. It’s more concerned with image and PR than real service.
International media have been reporting on the situation of the typhoon victims and the pace of disaster response since Day Three (Nov. 11). Their whole reportage was based on observations of the environment and interviews of people on the ground: government officials and survivors alike.
In Tacloban Airport, CNN’s Anderson Cooper reported boxes of relief goods remain stacked one on top of the other. On Yahoo! News, another reporter lamented the absence of coordination and urgency in the capital, where one would expect the base of operations to be: “We went to what we were told was a major relief staging area at the National Resource Operations Center. No one was there.”
Day Four (Nov. 12), the president skirts a legitimate concern raised by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour: That his administration’s response to the disaster may very well be his legacy. He harps on over what he said was a grossly disproportionate death toll and divides responsibility between the national and local government, the latter having already been rendered incapacitated. On Day Five (Nov. 13), Sec. Almendras says they have just finalized an action plan...Five days after Haiyan hit. On international TV, Sec. Mar Roxas fails to dodge a question posed to him by CNN’s Andrew Stevens: “It’s not the same dead body.” Roxas struggled to find words as he tried to spin his way out of the web.
On Day Six (Nov. 14), the Palace admits huge lapses and announces PNoy will personally take over the reins of the operation amid growing criticism. On November 15, Roxas admits the backlog in distribution was due to impassable roads, essentially refuting what Malacañang said on November 10 that “roads [to Tacloban] are passable.”
All throughout, local media have also been reporting on the dire situation of survivors: on how aid, until recently, was just a trickle. On how the body count continues to rise. Local media have tried to analyse and make sense of the pace of relief response from multiple angles. Again, the reportage is based on interviews of people on the ground.
In Roxas City, Capiz, away from media attention, a top local government official has resorted to contacting a private citizen, an acquaintance, because little or no help is coming to the city. This from a friend who shall remain anonymous. This same friend is helping out in relief operations for the city.
To say, therefore, that this other side of the spectrum does nothing but spread negativity is a generalisation. They have asked the hard questions and have not received straight answers. They can, like those who “support”, still sympathise with the survivors. To say that this side does nothing but complain is unfair, because they are helping in any way they can, and they are wary of the pace and outcome of their sacrifice. They are just tired of the spin and excuses. And to keep silent when they have observed inconsistencies is equivalent to indifference.
The danger for both ends of the spectrum is tunnel vision. “Support” could lead to a culture of complacency, mediocrity and blind submission. People who “oppose” could end up cynical, disenchanted and apathetic.
But the biggest hazard is the development of resentment towards people of opposing perspectives. Already, I have seen posts on social media (I have also written a couple, I’m sorry), calling people out for their supposed negative and critical views or their alleged blind acceptance of what the government shows them. Political biases are showing. People telling others: “If you think you can do a better job, take it.” As if diminishing one’s role as a citizen. “If you don’t like it, then leave.” As if judging one’s heart for the nation. “Unfriend me if you don’t like it.” As if the bond of friendship is so shallow, it would let ideological views get in the way.
And still some calling the media overly critical, as if they understand the role of a journalist. It’s as if we don’t live in a democracy, where the right to free speech and press is inherent.
So, how do we mend the rift? We recognise the roles we play, not just in disaster response, but in democracy: To help our countrymen stand, in whatever way we know how. To uplift and rebuild them by offering our time, talents and services. To not grow tired of doing good. To safeguard that which we are working so hard to restore. To thresh out the truth from speculation by asking the hard questions. To verify information and challenge premises. To be balanced, but firm like watchdogs, on what government is doing or not doing. To not blame or point fingers, but to take government’s hand and walk with them. To expose coverups and inefficiencies, but also to give credit where it is due. To not settle for excuses or mediocrity. To be in faith and to act, as well. To trust, but also to put pressure on government, when needed, in order to help them run more efficiently. And it is their duty as well to heed the call of the people because that is their contract with us.
Now, some of you may not agree with me, and that’s okay. Healthy debate is allowed. We have our own viewpoints, but we would end up like the politicians we so despise if we let those get in the way of helping people in need.
It is the end of Day Seven. National government is finally getting its act together. It’s time for us to do the same. This issue is polarising, and unless we mend this rift, it will tear the nation apart on a day our countrymen in the Visayas need us the most.
