Typhoon Ondoy: Who is to be blamed?

In a span of 9 hours, typhoon Ondoy has successfully drowned millions of houses and submerged most of the areas in NCR. The urban cities were transformed into rivers and people were forced to evacuate the residential areas to high places. In that span of 9 hours of raining, lives were lost and thousands of families were displaced. In an eagle’s eye view, Marikina, Rizal, Pasig, Laguna, Quezon City and other parts of Luzon looked like swamped because of the water that engulfed the places. For the time being, many places are still flooded.

Behind fears, nightmares, cries and stress brought by the flood lies the question, “Why did this happen?”
On the process of recovery, the government also asked the same question. The MMDA chairman, the DENR Secretary, and the LLDA has been picking holes against each other. Now, the national government and local government also exchanges fault at each other. Many experts have also shared their opinions. However, despite everything that what these people and agencies told, there is only one clear answer- All of them should be blamed.

It is not beyond one’s knowledge that development has been swift over the years. Mountains have been flatted to make way for housing projects and subdivisions. Farms and agricultural lands were converted into industrial and residential areas. Some of which, actually, have been submerged by typhoon Ondoy. Developments have also been fast along the creeks, bridges, esteros and other natural and artificial resources.

While housing projects and subdivision houses were built in mountains and farms, shanties were also built below the bridges, along the esteros, rivers, and even canals. It has been surprising that thousands of the population has been living a poor life in areas not meant for dwelling. With these developments, pollution of water and land followed. The rivers, canals, esteros and other bodies of water were converted into a garbage pit. Aside from that, greater bodies of water lie bays were covered with land to pave way for another industrial development.

There is nothing wrong with the developments. However, development for betterment and not for betterment only leads to abuse and disaster. On the part of the government, the fault should be pointed to them for they have the power to prevent developments and the people from residing and polluting the natural resources, yet they were heedless and completely ignored the problem. Though there are various environmental laws and plans for developing areas near the rivers, the government was incapable of properly implementing such laws and plans. Why? What was making them busy?

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was completely inutile in protecting and preserving the environment. The rivers and other natural resources were within their jurisdiction, yet, they failed to protect it from abusive people. Why did the DENR failed to prevent people from abusing the natural resources? The local government units, on the other hand, are clearly responsible for the people within their jurisdiction. How come that there are people living a hell life on the places not meant for dwelling. How come that they did not taught of cleaning their areas, especially the rivers, canals, and esteros? People abusing the environment are also at fault for they do not know where to dispose off their garbage. These reasons are merely shallow actually but were too difficult for the government agencies and lgus to address. Usually they reason out that they cannot do it, they cannot do it! Then, they should step down from their sit because they are completely inefficient and lacks the political will in exercising their power. They should be ashamed because they are a failure.

How should be blamed of the disastrous flash flood? All those in the government who used their power for their own good and the Filipino people lacking discipline of loving and caring the environment should be blamed.

I HOPE THAT WITH THE TREMENDOUS EFFECT OF TYPHOON ONDOY, NO ESTEROS, RIVERS, CANALS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER WILL BE FILLED WITH GARBAGE, NO MOUNTAINS WILL BE FLATTENED TO PAVE WAY FOR HOUSES, THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL BE SERIOUS IN IMPLEMENTING ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, AND THAT EVERY PERSON ALIVE WILL LEARN HOW TO LOVE AND CARE THE ENVIRONMENT. DENR, WAKE UP!