Where did the 1 Billion Pesos daily flood control funds go? Typhoon Carina: Disaster Response
On July 24, super typhoon Carina hit the Philippines causing intense rainfall and flooding in various regions and islands of Luzon. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declared Metro Manila in a “state of calamity.” As diasporic Filipinos, with many of our families in the Philippines, we look on in horror at the floods that have affected 1.3 million, most of whom come from the working-class and urban poor.
Several days before typhoon Carina, President Marcos Jr. delivered his State of the Nation Address and boasted that “we are overprepared for such natural disasters.” However, the effects of the typhoon reveal that the government’s absent disaster response and the country’s underdeveloped infrastructure make most Filipinos vulnerable in the ever worsening climate crisis. With nearly Php 1 billion per day allocated for flood control through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the clear severe underpreparation to the flooding is unacceptable.
The Marcos administration’s “Build Better More” surpasses the infrastructure program of Rodrigo Duterte’s “Build Build Build,” but the funding is only benefiting the wealthy. We see this effect in the stark contrast between the pristine streets of Bonifacio Global City versus other part of Metro Manila where Filipinos are wading through flooded streets and downed power lines.
The devastation of typhoon Carina also reveals the failures of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Last year the United States and the Philippines claimed that the addition of four additional bases for American troops would facilitate humanitarian aid and support during climate disasters. However, where was the support during the first days of Carina? It is not military forces but community-based and grassroots organizations that provide immediate assistance on the ground. In the diaspora, our membership has seen similar circumstances in regions with a heavy U.S. military presence; in January, storms in San Diego County devastated working-class neighborhoods, and in June, South Florida was in a state of emergency after torrential rain. In all instances, from the Philippines to the United States, when the people need their governments the most, they are left to fend for themselves.
As Malaya Movement USA, we must hold the Marcos government accountable for the damage and lives lost due to the typhoon. We must also further scrutinize government spending and advocate for development projects that do not displace vulnerable communities. We echo the calls of Philippine legislators to investigate the inept handling of Typhoon Carina. Climate disasters are part of our reality, but their effects can be mitigated with people-driven, rather than profit-driven, policies.
For typhoon relief efforts, we call on our kababayan to donate to and support the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (@nafconusa), an alliance that works with community partners in the Philippines. Donate to their Disaster Response fund: tinyurl.com/nafcondisasterresponse
