Reflection:
The existence of technology and contemporary science in today’s environmental status is
crucial in disaster risk reduction and management. Prevention will always be better than cure.
The responsibility of managing disaster risks and events is certainly dependent on science and
technology. Clearly, it would be impossible to deal with earthquakes, for instance, without being
knowledgeable on how the earth’s crust moves, as well as understanding how different building
materials and structures withstand the shock waves brought by the earthquakes. Similarly, it
would be incomprehensible to execute disaster risk reduction measures and accomplish
expanded versatility of communities without the knowledge of the social variables and social
setting of the influenced society and without the utilization of social sciences concepts and
instruments.
On November 11, 2020, Tropical storm Vamco (Ulysses) whipped the Philippines with
maintained winds of 150 kilometers (90 miles) per hour and crest escalated winds comparable to
a category 2 tropical storm. It submerged numerous parts of Marikina and Metro Manila — and
caused gigantic flooding in Cagayan and Isabela areas. The passing toll as of Nov. 18, is 73 and
yet, our country seemed to have not progressed even a bit on managing disaster events. Eleven
years ago, typhoon “Ondoy” claimed the lives of 464 individuals and submerged the same places
in Marikina and many parts of Metro Manila. We still saw the same scenes of flooding and
frantic calls for help due to the onslaught of “Ulysses”. Within the consequence of the “Ondoy”
devastation, few initiatives were attempted in terms of recognizable proof of peril zones and the
execution of the Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards). However, the
project was defunded in 2017. It’s actually just a matter of priorities and unfortunately, the
government’s priorities were misplaced. We could’ve had developments in disaster risk
reduction and management, but they chose to shut it down. That was the response to the call of
President Benigno S. Aquino III for an extra correct, integrated, and responsive disaster
prevention and mitigation technology, specifically in excessive-danger regions throughout the
Philippines. The Project could’ve harnessed technology and management services for disaster
risk reduction activities supplied through the DOST through PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, and the
DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), in partnership with the UP National
Institute of Geological Sciences and the UP College of Engineering. The rejected project consists
of the following components: Distribution of Hydrometeorological Devices in hard-hit areas in
the Philippines (Hydromet), Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation – Light Detection
and Ranging (DREAM-LIDAR) Project, Enhancing Geohazards Mapping through LIDAR,
Coastal Hazards and Storm Surge Assessment and Mitigation (CHASSAM), Flood Information
Network (FloodNET) Project, Local Development of Doppler Radar Systems (LaDDeRS),
Landslide Sensors Development Project, and Weather Hazard Information Project (WHIP). This
project will always remind us on how big we missed and how the nayional government opted to
reject it instead of putting it into the process of development. Nevertheless, there are still helpful
applications that can be used in smart phones, Hazard Hunter PH, which will help us in finding
out how prone our location are to typhoons, earthquakes, landslides, flooding, and storm surge.
According to a study conducted by Reid Basher, Science and Technology for Disaster
Risk Reduction: A review of application and coordination needs (2013), “Many countries have
achieved sustained reductions in risk, for example through systematic risk assessments, land use
controls, flood management schemes, building codes and their enforcement, hazard monitoring
and warning systems, and public education. Drawing on long experience, the 2005 Hyogo
Framework for Action 3 set out a comprehensive guide for the key political and technical areas
of action to reduce disaster risk. The efforts on its implementation to date have contributed to
rising political awareness and commitment to disaster risk reduction. However, the! evidence!
worldwide! points! to continuing! shortcomings! in! how! disaster! risk! Is recognized and
managed in practice. Among the underlying causes is an inadequate appreciation of the potential
of science and technology to cut risk and losses. Many fields of sciences and technology are
important to understanding and reducing disaster risk, including the natural and social sciences
and various applied sciences.”
The public usually anticipate their leaders to take steps to lessen the threat of disasters,
through sound guidelines and investments. Neglect of scientific knowledge and generation can
cause outstanding loss of life, severe assets losses and doubtlessly far accomplishing financial
and political effects. This changed into alas proven in the overtopping of dykes and flooding of
New Orleans in 2005 at some point of Hurricane Katrina and inside the disaster in Japan in 2011
when the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant failed after the Tohoku earthquake and
tsunami. Enough of the resiliency of the Filipinos, it’s time that we should demand
accountability from the leaders that have not done their part.
