Bacolod to the world
The city of Bacolod is gearing towards making the biggest human flag during the 111th Independence Day celebration this coming Friday. Around 9,000 individuals coming from various walks of life will join in the undertaking believed to be the first in the Philippines. For sure the endeavor will be covered by print and broadcast media not only in the country but the world over. This is the second time this year that Bacolod City will attract global attention. The first was when it attempted to broke the Guinness world record for the longest chicken barbecue. Validation is still being made by the proper authorities whether Bacolod City indeed broke the world record. Kudos to Mayor Bing Leonardia's administration for taking these challenges which eventually put Bacolod into the global scene!
Commemorating typhoon Frank
The city government of Iloilo reportedly is preparing several activities to commemorate the first anniversary of the worst natural disaster ever experienced by the city – the massive floods brought by typhoon Frank June 21 last year. Who could not forget typhoon Frank anyway? Both the rich and the poor suffered its wrath. But maybe the best way to commemorate typhoon Frank is to check what the city has done one year after in terms of preparedness in times of disaster.
Apparently, we haven't heard that the city has acquired rescue facilities – like rubber boats – that can be used during floods. We also haven't heard of disaster preparedness training conducted among residents of flood prone areas particularly in Jaro District. The city also has not established a system by which to respond in times of disaster like Frank. There is now an early flood warning device installed in critical areas of the Jalaur river to monitor the rise of water, but even if there is a warning device if there is no system on how to respond to it then it will redound to nothing.
The showing of pictures of the havoc wrought by typhoon Frank to commemorate its anniversary will not help in any way. It will only bring back grim memories to those whose houses were submerged in water, to those whose kin went missing, to those who slept on their rooftop waiting for the water to subside, etc. Maybe the best thing our city officials could do in commemoration of the typhoon Frank disaster is to tell the people what they have done one year after.