Being a country situated in the tropics and along the so called “Pacific Ring of Fire,” natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are a given fact in the Philippines. Adding to the country’s disaster predicament are man-made ones, like air and sea mishaps and floods brought about by forest denudation.
We have lately witnessed the series of natural disasters that have taken tremendous tolls of lives and properties. Just last week, floodwaters brought about by Typhoon “Sendong” ravaged Northern Mindanao, particularly the cities of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan, exacting immeasurable loss in terms of lives and properties. Barely months previous to this tragedy, a deluge of water inundated parts of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, destroying both farm lands and residential areas. And of course, who would ever forget the terrible consequences unexpectedly brought by Typhoons Ondoy and Pedring in 2009.
Admittedly, the country is still long way off in disaster preparedness. While we see policy makers as well as non-government sectors making some efforts to enhance disaster preparedness, these seem inadequate. Awareness and knowhow in dealing with disaster situations are still sorely lacking, not only among the citizenry, but also even among agencies or groups tasked with dealing with these types of emergencies. Nevertheless, the President has vowed recently to exercise the political will needed to make government officials do what is necessary to mitigate the ill effects of calamities hitting the country every year.
On the part of the citizenry, it is sad to note that many of us still do not take disaster preparedness activities seriously. While regular earthquake, fire and typhoon drills have become a compulsory activity in government agencies and some corporations, it is doubtful whether these are indeed done sincerely by individuals and groups involved.
Thus, year in and year out when calamity strikes, we always see the same scenes of rescue and relief operations by various groups, the Armed Forces definitely included.
AFP in rescue and relief operations
Men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are almost always seen at the forefront of rescue and relief operations. Though primarily trained for the conduct of traditional military operations, the AFP, as with other military forces in the world, has embarked on non-traditional roles unrelated to war fighting, among which is the conduct of disaster rescue and relief operations. The US Armed Forces have lumped these activities under what they term as Operations-Other-than- War (OOTW).
Various factors such as organization, equipment (primarily transport and communications), discipline and geographical spread favor the immediate response by AFP troops. With units and equipment spread out in almost every nook and remote barangays of our archipelago, the AFP can provide immediate rescue response when disaster, whether natural or man-made, strikes any area. With its discipline and training, the AFP unit in the area is probably the only organization that can immediately be mobilized to act cohesively and in unison amid the panic and peril during disasters. Thus the AFP is always seen as the first responders.
With inherent military discipline, the troops undertake such duties even when their own families and personal properties are at risk. It is “duty first above all else” in action. Tasked with this additional role, the AFP has seen to it that its personnel are capable and ready to deal with various types of emergencies during calamity situations. The AFP command issued a “Calamities and Disaster Plan” way back in 1995. It provides guidelines on how to effectively utilize its available manpower and resources during calamities. Training courses have been continuously conducted to selected personnel to equip them with skills needed as calamity responders. AFP has ensured that its medical teams are capable and ready to provide medical assistance to victims of calamities. Likewise, it has always made available its transport resources to provide land, sea and air mobility for evacuation and rapid delivery of relief supplies.
Time and again, the public has witnessed the selfless sacrifices being made by individual soldiers to save lives and alleviate the sufferings of disaster victims. Unmindful of his own safety, the individual soldier has many times bravely faced the risks involved in rescue operations. A few have offered the supreme sacrifice in the pursuit of that duty.
In the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong’s onslaught in Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City, the individual soldier has been toiling since Day-One, and most probably will toil until all rescue, retrieval, relief and rehabilitation activities are deemed completed. This, he has done unnoticed, without fanfare and glare of klieg lights.
As I bear witness to the tragedy that struck Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City, I deem it fit to extend my gratitude for the sacrifices and selfless efforts being made by our soldiers to ease the pain and sufferings of the victims. Special mention go to the troops of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division operating in Iligan City and the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro. Of course, I need to commend the other AFP supporting elements from the Navy and the Air Force and the other uniformed services. Though their efforts might go unnoticed, the exhilarating feeling that one experiences by being able to help troubled fellowmen is more than enough reward for our soldiers. To our soldiers out there who are braving the risk and bearing the discomfort and loneliness even during the Christmas holidays, so that those who are suffering may find solace during these trying times of their lives, my snappiest salute. I am truly proud to have been part of the noble profession-of-arms.
We have lately witnessed the series of natural disasters that have taken tremendous tolls of lives and properties. Just last week, floodwaters brought about by Typhoon “Sendong” ravaged Northern Mindanao, particularly the cities of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan, exacting immeasurable loss in terms of lives and properties. Barely months previous to this tragedy, a deluge of water inundated parts of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, destroying both farm lands and residential areas. And of course, who would ever forget the terrible consequences unexpectedly brought by Typhoons Ondoy and Pedring in 2009.
Admittedly, the country is still long way off in disaster preparedness. While we see policy makers as well as non-government sectors making some efforts to enhance disaster preparedness, these seem inadequate. Awareness and knowhow in dealing with disaster situations are still sorely lacking, not only among the citizenry, but also even among agencies or groups tasked with dealing with these types of emergencies. Nevertheless, the President has vowed recently to exercise the political will needed to make government officials do what is necessary to mitigate the ill effects of calamities hitting the country every year.
On the part of the citizenry, it is sad to note that many of us still do not take disaster preparedness activities seriously. While regular earthquake, fire and typhoon drills have become a compulsory activity in government agencies and some corporations, it is doubtful whether these are indeed done sincerely by individuals and groups involved.
Thus, year in and year out when calamity strikes, we always see the same scenes of rescue and relief operations by various groups, the Armed Forces definitely included.
AFP in rescue and relief operations
Men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are almost always seen at the forefront of rescue and relief operations. Though primarily trained for the conduct of traditional military operations, the AFP, as with other military forces in the world, has embarked on non-traditional roles unrelated to war fighting, among which is the conduct of disaster rescue and relief operations. The US Armed Forces have lumped these activities under what they term as Operations-Other-than- War (OOTW).
Various factors such as organization, equipment (primarily transport and communications), discipline and geographical spread favor the immediate response by AFP troops. With units and equipment spread out in almost every nook and remote barangays of our archipelago, the AFP can provide immediate rescue response when disaster, whether natural or man-made, strikes any area. With its discipline and training, the AFP unit in the area is probably the only organization that can immediately be mobilized to act cohesively and in unison amid the panic and peril during disasters. Thus the AFP is always seen as the first responders.
With inherent military discipline, the troops undertake such duties even when their own families and personal properties are at risk. It is “duty first above all else” in action. Tasked with this additional role, the AFP has seen to it that its personnel are capable and ready to deal with various types of emergencies during calamity situations. The AFP command issued a “Calamities and Disaster Plan” way back in 1995. It provides guidelines on how to effectively utilize its available manpower and resources during calamities. Training courses have been continuously conducted to selected personnel to equip them with skills needed as calamity responders. AFP has ensured that its medical teams are capable and ready to provide medical assistance to victims of calamities. Likewise, it has always made available its transport resources to provide land, sea and air mobility for evacuation and rapid delivery of relief supplies.
Time and again, the public has witnessed the selfless sacrifices being made by individual soldiers to save lives and alleviate the sufferings of disaster victims. Unmindful of his own safety, the individual soldier has many times bravely faced the risks involved in rescue operations. A few have offered the supreme sacrifice in the pursuit of that duty.
In the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong’s onslaught in Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City, the individual soldier has been toiling since Day-One, and most probably will toil until all rescue, retrieval, relief and rehabilitation activities are deemed completed. This, he has done unnoticed, without fanfare and glare of klieg lights.
As I bear witness to the tragedy that struck Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City, I deem it fit to extend my gratitude for the sacrifices and selfless efforts being made by our soldiers to ease the pain and sufferings of the victims. Special mention go to the troops of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division operating in Iligan City and the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro. Of course, I need to commend the other AFP supporting elements from the Navy and the Air Force and the other uniformed services. Though their efforts might go unnoticed, the exhilarating feeling that one experiences by being able to help troubled fellowmen is more than enough reward for our soldiers. To our soldiers out there who are braving the risk and bearing the discomfort and loneliness even during the Christmas holidays, so that those who are suffering may find solace during these trying times of their lives, my snappiest salute. I am truly proud to have been part of the noble profession-of-arms.
Comments
Post a Comment