The national and local governments should be accountable for what happened to the victims of Sendong. Dapat merong mananagot. That's one of the principles of good governance. And the barangay and city officials and P-Noy, being the chairman of the Climate Change Commission, are the primary duty bearers.
It is not enough to explain the disaster, like attribute it partly to the complacency of the ordinary citizens. It is not hard to see why complacency, poor city planning, proliferation of urban slums, destructive mining, and deforestation are factors that increase people's vulnerability to disasters. That is why in 2009, P-noy signed into law the Climate Change Act that mandates the national and local governments to formulate and implement Local Climate Change Action Plans. But where are the plans?
Governor Joey Salceda of Albay has shown the way to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. P-noy should start watching the performance of his former classmate rather than that of Valerie Conception (no pun intended).
Showing posts with label Mindanao. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mindanao. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Changing the Course of Mindanao's History
It is high time to acknowledge and correct the grave mistakes that were committed against the past, present and future generations of Mindanaoans. The Spaniards in the Philippines intruded into the commercial and political territories of the Muslim Royal families. This led to the Muslim raids against Christian communities. These raids, in turn, led to higher levels of violence committed against (and by) Muslims, Christians, and Cultural Communities under the Spanish, American, Japanese, and Filipino-led administrations.
To alter the course of Mindanao's history, we need to send development and education specialists to the Land of Promise, rather than soldiers. We need development funds, rather than arms. We need a sense of history, rather than a sense of arrogance. We need reason, more than passion. We need actions, more than words.We need all-out education, rather than all-out war. We must pursue all-out development, more than all-out justice.
To alter the course of Mindanao's history, we need to send development and education specialists to the Land of Promise, rather than soldiers. We need development funds, rather than arms. We need a sense of history, rather than a sense of arrogance. We need reason, more than passion. We need actions, more than words.We need all-out education, rather than all-out war. We must pursue all-out development, more than all-out justice.
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