SOCIAL JUSTICE, RIGHT ON THE ACT

The city of Pasig is no stranger to either natural or man-made-caused calamities.

Unfortunate disasters are inevitable. Hence, it is my job as a student and member of the
community to assess my very own community's disaster reduction and preparedness.

BRIEF OVERVIEW
One infamous incident would be Typhoon Ulysses, otherwise known as Vamco, which lashed
onto Metro Manila and Southern Luzon on the twelfth of November 2020. According to the
official Facebook Page of Pasig City DRRMO (2020), its intensity was 150kph near the center
with a 205kph gustiness. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAG-ASA) declared Metro Manila under signal no. 3.

WHAT I KNOW
As a student, I am very well aware of my community’s official Facebook Page. The site gives
me assurance regarding the city government’s disaster reduction and preparedness. The same
goes before, during, and after the incident of the Typhon Ulysses. We were given updates and
notices about what had transpired. I can remember that the city government did a great job
evacuating most people and providing needed necessities, as shown in their photos.

WHAT I WANT TO KNOW

After the Disaster
In the news report of CNN Philippine Staff (2020), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed via text message a total death poll of sixty-seven
(67); comprising two (2, seventeen (17), eight (8), ten (10), and eight (8) deaths from Cagayan
Valley. Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and
National Capital Region, respectively.

Surprisingly and fortunately, Bryant Wong, head of the Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Office (PCDRRMO), declared that no deaths had transpired in Pasig City. There
were naturally injured people and were still stuck in the massive flood. Still, the Pasig City
DRRMO focused on giving adequate relief goods to flood victims and providing 22 evacuation
centers separately located at 15 barangays (communities) for about 8,955 residents (ABS-CBN
News).

Kabagani (2020) reported that a rough estimate of ten thousand (10,000) evacuees in the city
have progressively returned to their respective houses. Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto has even
confirmed that those evacuees were given enough grocery food packs and other necessities
upon returning to their homes. Moreover, about ninety-nine (99) percent of the flood has
subsided, making the travel much comfortable and more manageable. This also caused people
to regain their normal lives bit by bit.
However, Pasig DRRMO cited around 9,000 households that lost their power supply, thereby
needing the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to restore power. The mayor also reminded that the
residents must still wear masks as per the current onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The battle did not end there. The Pasig City DRRMO was still alert and has given their
emergency hotline through their telephone number 8643-0000 aside from leaving private
messages on their Facebook Page.

During the disaster

Flood victims were calling out for help. They
used social media outlets, radio stations, and
available TV interviews to seek a rescue team.
Apparently, the winds grew more potent to the
extent of ruining houses, falling trunks of trees,
tangled cable wires, and blown-house roofs.
Flood victims were driven with fear, as
observed in the comment sections in the
Facebook updates of Pasig City DRRMO.

The dire consequences brought by the

unwanted calamity were no joking matter. Only
suffering injuries and avoiding death speak
louder volume than any verbal or written form
combined. It left me at awe as I began to
comprehend the effectiveness and productivity
of our Pasig City DRRMO.

Before the Disaster

The Pasig City DRRMO remained in touch with
the NDRRMC. The city followed the protocols,
issuances, and advisories of the agency. This
was proven and tested based on the constant
regular updates of the Pasig City DRRMO,
whereby everyone can gain access except for
a select few (those who do not have data or
internet to avail any social media apps). There
were also valuable infographics that were
easier to understand and obey.

Moreover, the city government of Pasig even

managed to donate ten thousand (10,000)
units of food packs costing PHP1.5 million and
PHP5 million to the Catanduanes Governor
Joseph Cua. Such act was authorized under Resolution No. 7, series of 2020, approval to
provide temporary respite to calamity-ridden cities and municipalities.

The actions of Pasig City were worthwhile to mention. The local government was indeed
concerned with the safety of its citizens and community members.

WHAT I PROPOSE
Indeed, the Pasig city government did a great job at handling the incident of Typhoon Ulysses
without incurring a single death. However, I believe that there are better ways that the national
government, local government unit, community folks, other sectors could have done to mitigate
the adverse effects of the calamity. Below are the following:

Bring Back Regular Text-Updates

This has been done by the NDRRMC before. However, I received fewer messages as another
year passed by. I recommend this to save lives, especially for the unfortunate ones who lack
WiFi or data.

Involve the Youth

I have noticed that in some schools, universities, and colleges, only a select few institutions
involve the youth in the disaster preparedness of a specific community. I also have a senior high
school ABM-strand friend who never had an in-depth lecture regarding DRRM. This led me to
think that youths may end up ignorant should this curriculum not strictly implement the class on
DRRM.

Have a Proper Waste Management

This is very common yet still effective. It was proclaimed and implemented by cities like mine.
However, I believe that the government must be stricter this time around. Legal penalties must
concur should any litter-offender disobey the proper waste management. I advocate that leaders
and citizens must act together and not separately.

REFLECTION & ANALYSIS

Filipinos can be headstrong stubborn when it comes to evacuating their houses. They create
several reasons that will most likely endanger their lives should they stay even longer. However,
today’s generation showed outstanding participatory development. Based on various media, I
have witnessed people gathering around and doing their best to mitigate the adverse effects of
disasters altogether. I have seen voluntary works by the youth to engage in love for the
environment. The local city government was transparent and effective in its budget allocation for
DRRM.

Such a disaster response becomes one viable example of a Social Justice Issue. Everyone was
given a right to be free from harm, live more comfortably, and co-exist with one another. Opting
to do nothing and just remain silent will never be an option as numerous lives are at stake.
Thence, disaster response is social justice in the flesh, right on the act!
 References

ABS-CBN News. (2020, November 13). Pasig walang naitalang patay sa pananalasa ng

bagyong ulysses. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/13/20/pasig-walang-naitalang-

patay-sa-pananalasa-ng-bagyong-ulysses

Kabagani, L. J. (2020a, November 8). Pasig’s typhoon relief aid arrives in catanduanes.

Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1121155

Kabagani, L. J. (2020b, November 14). Pasig now 99% flood-free; clearing ops ongoing.

Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1121840

NDRRMC. (2020, June). Flood advisory no. 2 for Pasig-Marikina-Tullahan river.

https://ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/4059/Advisory_Flood_Advisory_no_2_for_Pasi

g_Markina_Tullahan_River_issued_on_11JUN2020_8PM.pdf

Pasig City DRRMO. (n.d.).

https://www.facebook.com/PasigCityDRRMO/posts/1769976489845299. Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/PasigCityDRRMO/posts/1769976489845299

Ulysses death toll at 67 – NDRRMC. (2020, November 15). Cnn.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/11/15/Typhoon-Ulysses-NDRRMC-death-

toll-update.html