Pointblank
Helpless
The flood that ravaged Iloilo City and a number of municipalities in the province last Saturday surprised almost everyone. Everybody was caught flat-footed, so to speak. Some say this is the worst to have happened since the 1995 flood that hit the city. Calls for rescue flooded radio stations but apparently there was lack of rescuers. Worse, even if there were rescuers they don't have equipment or facilities like rubber boats that they could use for the rescue operations.
I was glued to the radio set the whole day of Saturday monitoring the radio accounts of the situation all over the city and the province. Many houses were submerged in water forcing the families to transfer to high-rise houses. Others stay on the rooftops. The weaker ones were carried away by the flood waters. Many vehicles stranded on the streets particularly in Jaro and La Paz areas were also covered by water. The drivers and owners left their vehicles just to save themselves.
Radio stations also received text messages from those stranded or trapped in their houses asking for help. Unfortunately, even the various volunteer rescue groups were caught by surprise. High-rise vehicles like dump trucks and military trucks were also stranded in the middle of the flooded roads. There was only one or two rubber boats available and yet the flooded area was so wide. There was just too many that need to be rescued.
Even Engr. Jose Papa of the city's disaster management team admitted that they were helpless. As much as they wanted to help those stranded and trapped people they could not do otherwise because they lack equipment especially rubber boats.
Later Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog was heard calling on private individuals to lend their rubber boats, jet skis or trucks to be used in rescue operations. Many private persons heeded his call. Jet ski groups helped in the rescue operations. Pumpboats were also brought to the flooded areas. But the strong water current limited the move of the rescuers.
Many people were left on their rooftops overnight making them vulnerable to rains and strong wind. They didn't have something to eat nor water to drink. They've asked for help but they could not be reached. People from a cross section of the society became victims. Rich or poor they struggled to save their lives by clinging to posts or trees, staying on rooftops.
The Iloilo scenario reached the attention of President Arroyo who immediately directed the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Navy to help in the rescue operations. Unfortunately, the PAF choppers from Cebu could not be mobilized to go to Iloilo because of bad weather. The C-130 plane carrying relief goods and Philippine Navy rubber boats also did not manage to take off from Manila until yesterday.
With the local officials and volunteer groups becoming helpless there's no other recourse left but prayer. Msgr. Meliton Oso and Fr. Esperidion Celis were heard leading prayers for the distressed people aired over radio stations.
Last Saturday's flood should be a wake up call for the city and provincial officials including municipal officials to be prepared at all times. Apparently, flooding is inevitable especially now that our mountains are already denuded. It is thus imperative among our officials to give focus or priority on investing on rescue equipment that could be used in times of disasters like flood.
Iloilo City, in particular, should take this matter seriously as flood occurs almost every year. When heavy rains hit the mountains for long hours expect that water at the Jaro river will swell resulting into flashfloods in Jaro, Mandurriao and La Paz districts. The multi-billion floodway project which is seen as the solution to the city's flooding problem is still in the works and probably we still have to wait for five to seven years before it will be completed. In other words, whether we like it or not, we have to bear living with flood every year.
So, I think it is now time for our city officials to take seriously the problem on flooding. Instead of depending on volunteer rescue groups, which also lack equipment, the city government should allot a budget for the acquisition of hundreds of rubber boats and life jackets that could be used in times of flood. For sure with such equipment on hand we will not be helpless.