In the wake of government ineptitude in disaster management

FILIPINOS SUFFERING FROM COLLECTIVE TRAUMA

09 October 2009, Quezon City - A non-government organization focusing on psycho-social well-being of children in man-made and natural disasters scored the government for inflicting psychological trauma to the Filipino public through its failure in providing adequate disaster preparedness measures and disaster response in the wake of the recent typhoons.

According to the Children's Rehabilitation Center, certain changes in the weather are causing a pattern of response in people that manifest their fears and anxieties.  CRC Executive Director, Ma. Esmeralda Macaspac said that after Tropical Storm “Ondoy” and with the news of the coming typhoon “Pepeng” people were observed to rush to groceries and supermarkets and to rush home early causing traffic jams even before the so-called rush hour.  “This is a normal reaction especially after many of us have been caught by surprise by the floods and subsequent destruction brought about by the storm.  The absence of systematic and early warning and evacuation mechanisms caused strong anxiety reactions especially to those living near rivers or in low-lying areas severely affected by the flooding,” Macaspac said.

Macaspac said that while these reactions may be normal under the circumstances, these may consequently affect children's behaviors as the adult's anxieties may be transferred to their children.  “Children in families severely affected by the floods in some areas of Quezon City and Marikina have already exhibited behaviors such as nightmares, fear of water and unusual fear of the dark,” she said. “While we usually advise parents whose children have exhibited such behaviors to talk to their children and assure them that they are secure and will be well taken cared of during such emergencies, we also understand the difficulties of these parents because they themselves are not assured of such safety and security by the government.”

The Salinlahi Alliance for Children's Concerns also challenged the governmet to make public its disaster preparedness plans in the wake of another typhoon expected to hit Luzon.  Sophia Garduce, spokesperson of the alliance said that more than three weeks after Ondoy and a week after pepeng, the Arroyo government still has not come up with a comprehensive and systematic disaster management program.  “Such program is important especially for families so that they will know how to keep their children safe when storm emergencies occur.”

CRC and Salinlahi are part of the Task Force Children of the Storm, a network of child-focused NGOs formed to respond to the current emergency.  The Task Force noted that many of those who died in the floods and landslides were children.  “This is a very ironic way to celebrate children's month this October.  It is indeed very symbolic that Filipino families are burying their children when they should be looking forward for their brighter future,” Garduce averred.    

The Task Force already visited evacuation centers in Bgy. Bagong Silangan and Bgy. Talanay, where many affected families are still seeking temporary shelter.  The Task Force is initially gathering data on the effects of the disaster on the children and will be conducting psycho-social debriefing activities in various affected areas. “While our psycho-social activities may help alleviate some effects of the disaster on children, the most decisive psycho-social help must come from the government through its assurance that they are truly secure and safe.  This will only happen if they will institute adequate disaster management and environmental protection policies,” Macaspac concluded.  ###