Beyond Coping

Written by: Cameron Juli F. Patubo

It is no secret that the Philippines is prone to numerous natural disasters and calamities. One example is the tropical cyclone which the country experiences at least 20 times a year due to its geographic location astride the Pacific Typhoon Belt. Because of this, it is also expected that the government would have already established a strong disaster response system long ago. However, up until now, it has only invested mainly in warning systems and emergency relief capacities that are not even sufficient.

Just these past three weeks, the country has encountered five tropical cyclones that brought overlapping landfalls across different regions and provinces. Strong winds and extreme floods have destroyed crops, businesses, homes, and even took the lives of many Filipinos. But once again, the government had been caught off guard and was only able to rely on private sectors to help victims.

Meanwhile, other concerned citizens have embraced their “Filipino spirit” and called for donations online to which many willingly participated in. “Bayanihan,” as referred to by others. This can be considered as an act of resilience that has already been a part of the Filipinos’ culture for many years. An act of resilience that has also become over-exploited and romanticized, especially by those in power to cover up their incompetence.

While there is completely nothing wrong in helping others, depending solely on the power of “Filipino spirit” and bayanihan to carry us through calamitous times only breeds toxic positivity. It normalizes suffering among the poor and marginalized who often find themselves in more vulnerable situations than those who are privileged. Moreover, it lets officials get away without the responsibility of doing anything about it, ignoring the effects of disasters to social inequalities. We must stop romanticizing this so-called “resiliency” and start demanding for concrete actions and long-term solutions. Start demanding for accountability, leadership, and better, coordinated disaster response from the government.

This means supporting projects such as Project NOAH under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which initially aimed to provide more accurate, integrated, and responsive systems for the possibility of a disaster-free Philippines before it was shut down last March 2017. Reducing vulnerabilities and hazards by relocating exposed communities, strengthening land-use, and organizing flood-control measures are also some solutions that need to be done with the help of proper funding.

Needless to say, it is heartwarming to see Filipinos helping each other amidst natural calamities. However, we also need to be critical when we celebrate “resilience.” True resiliency is not just about coping; it is about change. Change that requires collective action and long-term commitment from all levels of the government to ensure that nobody is left behind.

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