EXPECT the prices of food to soar to new heights in the coming days.
Why – because of storm Carina.
The bread basket of the country – Central Luzon – bore the brunt of her fury. Floods not only caused death but also terrible damage to fishery and agriculture.
When natural calamity decimates food right from the source, the adverse effect transmits down the line – the food consumers.
* * *
Nobody expected the wrath of Carina’s fury. It seems like Carina caught everyone by surprise and could only sigh in great disbelief at the extent of damage she wrought.
Yes, flooding was the great scourge.
So why the flooding?
Why should everyone be surprised by the onset of floods?
The path that Carina took was the usual route natural destroyers usually take, in other words, a routinary route.
And yet, despite the warnings, and despite the grim experiences of the past damages, and yes of course, despite the huge expenses kunohay for flood control, floods still wrecked everything that was laid in place.
What went wrong with our preparation, kunohay?
* *
The occurrence of floods, or onset of storms are regularly, and routinely, predicted by PAGASA. Our LGUs are made aware of what to expect in the coming months, so nobody can say that he was caught completely by surprise.
And yet.
We have legislators, both in the national and local, levels, who could do wonders in providing the budget sought by local chief executives with regard to the so-called priority projects, that include flood control.
And yet.
We have politicians of yore, who are very persuasive (especially during the campaign period) in reminding the public of their great concern to the environment, of their dedication to public service and of their exemplary plans to make life really worth living.
And yet.
* * *
There is no budget for flood control infrastructure, and yet, at the aftermath of the damage, when lives are already lost and damage to agriculture is already felt, we have are our eager beaver politicians, distributing foodies, goods and other foodstuffs, and telling all and sundry, especially the poor, that they feel and they are with them, in their pain or sorrow, while dispensing goods procured from public funds but very visibly marked with the names of the politicians.
Yes, di gyod malimtan ang pamolitika. Mas nindot manghatag og relief goods, kay sa ayohon o limpyohon ang mga canals, kay ma-gamit man god og pamolitika.
* * *
I can still recall that time when a cabinet secretary was beaming with pride, his smile from ear to ear, as he recounted the preparations made for the president’s visit, ensuring that everyone, and everything, was in order, given the huge budget spent for the project.
And litany of bragging was coupled with a very powerful powerpoint presentation in LED boards.
Bongga gyod kaayo ang presentation ni Sec.
When time came for the President to speak and he started to remind the public of the big impact of the project to the province’s total development, mi brown-out pa bitaw na og kalit. Unya kay late in the afternoon na man nagsugod, kay super late pod miabot ang Presidente, ang resulta, total darkness ang venue.
Mora’g gisagpa sa kaulaw si Sec.
Tiaw bay milungtad og taodtaod usa pa nabalik and koryente, and the President was terribly embarrassed.
Giunsa kaha to ni Sec paglubag og balik ang maayong buot ni President?
* * *
Former President Digong Duterte is running for the senate kuno.
What is the implication to this?
Well, if that is true, then this will bring shiver down the spine of would-be senate candidates. Because for sure, PRRD is winnable.
