The final froth

In the whirlpool of flood and disaster, it is interesting to observe that there will always be the foaming froth of criticism stirred by those who did the least or none at all.

Sooner than I had expected, there is now an almost orchestrated effort to criticize or belittle the work of Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. Opposition Senators and so-called “presidentiables” and their PR machinery have started to churn out criticism at the National Disaster Coordinating Council, not necessarily because of the NDCC but because Teodoro scored solid points for his leadership, response and decisiveness at the height of tropical storm Ondoy.

Teodoro’s opponents have to go on attack mode because Ondoy was undoubtedly an unexpected double-portioned blessing for the secretary. If the death of Cory Aquino helped propel Senator Noynoy Aquino as a Presidential candidate, Ondoy on the other hand showed what Gilbert Teodoro was made of, under a national calamity and extreme pressure.

Unlike his consistently soft-spoken cousin, Gilbert Teodoro revealed his willingness to make decisions under the gun and his willingness to deal firmly with troublemakers and criminals during the storm.

If public recognition or a measure of popularity comes to Teodoro at this point in time, it is only fair that we give him his moment under the spotlight. He earned it and he deserves it along with the many men and women of the Department of National Defense, the PNP and the NDCC.

Teodoro did not manufacture the storm or the disaster. No one ever imagined that fate and circumstance would conspire to put Teodoro in the NDCC and eventually at the helm of our national response to a national calamity. No one ever imagined that the least of the presidentiables in terms of rating would suddenly be tried and tested for all to see on national media.

It would be folly on the part of Teodoro’s opponents and critics to undermine him because in doing so, they merely call attention to their own inaction, their agenda and ultimately their hypocrisy. Over the weekend, several friends who were previously indifferent to presidentiables, were now very vocal against those criticizing Teodoro for his efforts.

In times of great calamity or natural disasters, circumstances bring to us great clarity. Then we realize what matters and what is true. It is in these moments when we understand that truly “Action speaks louder than words”.

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Reckless endangerment and dereliction of duty are just two of the cases I have been thinking of which can be filed against local officials who have indirectly caused deaths and destruction of properties.

But unlike the current suggestions that we sue mayors, I would suggest that we go all the way down to barangay captains who are actually the first in line and the nearest to the situation. I know from personal experience that barangay captains have full knowledge of all the constructions in their area. They also have the power to prevent any construction from taking place. Start with barangay captains first because they never go down with the sinking ship!

It is so easy to single out mayors but such an approach may ultimately end up nothing more than political vendetta. At the very least, when we go after the barangay captain chances are we will quickly learn if the mayor had a hand in allowing squatters to live under bridges or riverbanks.

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When Commissioner Marcelino Libanan of the Bureau of Immigration played host to the Tuesday Club, I was “downtown” in the City of Manila where I learned from several “suki” suppliers that there have been a number of “mainland Chinese” who are now living in the community and engaging in the retail trade.

I was also requested to send word to the good Commissioner to put a check on “mission orders” being issued or waved by people reportedly from the BI Enforcement division”. It seems that some of his people have been visiting stores and factories to “inspect” or “meet” with owners concerning gaps, lapses and suspicions of violation right in the middle of a national calamity.

I am currently collecting the names and titles of these hoodlums but for the time being, Commissioner Libanan might want to meet with his people and rein them in. Considering the number of “immigrants” now engaged in retail trade from north to south, the BI should concentrate on the patently illegal and not technical companies that try to comply.

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President Arroyo’s idea of buying “Nipa houses” for typhoon victims was a very practical idea based on a successful business model. If PGMA wants an even tougher “housing module” she can call on businessman Enrique Razon and the Aboitiz family to help her collect all the container vans from all the ports and piers that can quickly be modified as “Typhoon proof” housing. These container vans can be interconnected, stacked and refurbished to be cheap and affordable.

All you need to do is cut windows and a door and you can put more units per square meter than a Nipa hut. By planting trees in between, the system will have natural shade-insulation and anchors.

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Speaking of disasters, all schools of architecture as well as engineering offices in the country should revisit a male-bias in building design. Often times, women have to stand in long lines because there are never enough toilets for women because most of these facilities are not women-sensitive or have been designed by men!

Would it be too much to teach architects to be a little more sensitive about women’s needs? God bless the Philippines.