Click Here! If I had had the information in this comprehensive manual, I would have been in the Philippines a year before I actually made it here.
If I had had the information in this comprehensive manual, I would have been in the Philippines a year before I actually made it here.
Click Here! If I had had the information in this comprehensive manual, I would have been in the Philippines a year before I actually made it here.
floods in the Philippines
The Philippines has many laws on their books, that sound great and gives the impression of a country with law and order and a social conscience.
The problem is when ever you try to use the law or get support it really does not exist for most of the poorer people in the Philippines, and it is very unlikely to help many foreigners even if they have money. The truth is that as mentioned in so many global reports the Philippines does not enforce rules and laws on the rich and powerful, and therefore everyone believes there is no point in going to the law or the help of the government during emergencies.
A case in point is the terrible typhoon of two years ago. The world sent millions and millions of dollars and relief to the people worst affected. A very large chunk of that money and emergency supplies never made it to the people who were suffering. The food was sold along with clothing and the money pocketed or misplaced. This may sound astounding to international audiences, but within in the Philippines it is deemed normal. The truth is that the rich and powerful dynasties have control over most of the day to day issues of the people. Local politicians are poorly monitored by the central government and money often vanishes and nothing ever happens about it.
Recently a heavy rainfall in the area where I live turned into an awful flood. The flood was partly caused by poor maintenance of the roads and the flood ways. This forced the water to go in a direction it has never done in living memory and forced water down a small street and though a very poor neighbourhood. The water was so relentless and powerful, that it tore down a wall and gushed into homes through the windows. It lasted hours and hours and also contaminated the only water supply too. During the hours and hours of this emergency, I saw no official at all. No Police or rescue workers or anyone.
After a few hours, old ladies were cleaning out their flooded homes and a group of Police walked by in clean pristine uniforms. They obviously had done nothing during the flood. Now dressed in shiny shoes they made comments to each other and walked past damaged properties. At no point did I see them even talk to anyone.
So, if you are living in the Philippines during a time of calamity you can rely on one person to help you. YOU!
John is a very young 57 who has lived in the Philippines for over ten years and makes his living online as an SEO consultant and copy writer along with other online resources. John has lived in Davao, Manila and in Puerto Galera and has become an honoury Filipino. His hobbies include traveling and 1970s culture. For any articles or online work please feel free to contact John on [email protected]
