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WSJ: How are you currently involved with the relief and recovery effort, and can you tell us a bit about your past experience providing post-disaster relief in the Philippines?

Mr. Holganza: I was the AFP’s operations chief when the twin typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng flooded vast areas of Metro Manila and Luzon in 2009. We were in the thick of the massive relief and rehab operation initiated at that time. I was also the National Development Support Command commander when Typhoon Sendong devastated Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in 2011. NADESCOM [the army’s main development arm] then was not just involved in providing crucial water systems for the relief ops, we were heavily involved in the immediate repair and clean-up of roads and bridges, retrieval ops, construction of evacuation centers and resettlement areas.

My efforts have been purely through initiatives of private groups. The views here are based on my observations, readings and discussions with people on the ground.

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On coordination. The destruction/absence of communication facilities made coordination a big challenge. The government should have had redundant systems to ensure no communication breakdown would hamper any project or activity. If they were destroyed as well, then government should have moved swiftly to restore these.

Other factors: Politics. The fact that the mayor of Tacloban comes from the Marcos camp [a political rival to current President Benigno Aquino III] became a stumbling block. People have developed a great distrust for government, especially in the light of massive corruption at the national level. Stories of grandstanding politicians, repacking of relief goods ready for distribution, etc. make matters even worse.

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WSJ: It has been more than two weeks since Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines. What happens now? Food aid is getting out, but what do people need most at the moment, and how do you start providing that?

Mr. Holganza: The basic disaster needs remain the same. First is the effort for more food, water, clothing and temporary shelter to come in. Second is the recovery ops, to ensure that disease doesn’t set in. Then there’s the re-establishment of the peace and order system; the clean-up drive to ensure easy access thru roads and bridges; the construction of evacuation shelters and housing facilities; the trauma therapy most particularly for the children; the establishment of new livelihood opportunities.

The next problem will be how and when to wean them away from the “victim mentality,” so they will no longer depend on the relief centers but will be ready to stand on their own again. This is where the livelihood opportunities are most needed. The government’s cash-for-work project is one such great move in this area, as people are mobilized to join clean-ups or home-builds, etc.

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WSJ: What can be learned from past recovery responses here? The Philippines is no stranger to disaster, so how has it recovered in the past? Are the challenges it faces now typical? Do they highlight a larger problem in the Philippines?

Mr. Holganza: The main lesson is that today’s disaster management plans will have to be redone so that past worst case scenarios are upped. I’m sure there will be protests on some observations given here, but the fact remains that the government needs a better communications effort to make people understand that efforts are being done – heroically, nobly, and in unity – to assuage the sufferings of our countrymen. A simple picture of the president shaking hands with the mayor of Tacloban will have a tremendous effect on the relief effort.

People should simply start working together, trusting each other. Positive criticism provides the wake-up call to do better next time, and to provide not just “ordinary service” to the people, but a truly professional service that’s compassionate and fair to all.


http://cbholganzablog.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/qa-philippine-lessons-in-post-disaster-recovery/

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