AMID the ongoing relief efforts by government agencies for the victims of typhoon “Ursula”, let us not overlook the fact that local governments are facing the greater challenge of building back better communities.
We deeply commiserate with families who have lost their loved ones due to “Ursula.” It is truly heartbreaking to see the devastated communities. As we offer prayers for the victims and all those affected, we hope that this disaster will serve as another lesson to us especially as we rebuild our communities. Affected citizens in many areas immediately need food, clothing, shelter and medicines, but we must now also start addressing the need to rehabilitate affected communities.
It will not be enough to build people’s lives and communities to where they were before the disaster — we need to rebuild communities with the confidence that we are not rebuilding the risks again. We need to ensure that reconstruction of homes and infrastructure will be in safer ground following sound construction standards. We need to soon restart and create livelihoods, and restore normalcy in people’s lives with a stronger sense of hope and confidence for the future.
Aside from post-disaster damage and loss assessment, there should be a social needs assessment so that there is equal attention to the social needs of affected communities, including for alternative employment and livelihood opportunities.
We must build back better and more resilient communities. We must prevent disasters and be prepared in the coming of the next natural hazards. We must also ensure effective early warning systems that will facilitate early actions.
We must rebuild communities that are better, stronger and more resilient to give our people not only hope for the present, but also assurance in the future. We must free ourselves from the exhausting and costly cycle of rebuilding our communities every single time natural hazards occur by doing everything in our capacity to prevent disasters.
