TYPHOON “Tino” (international name: “Kalmaegi”) has claimed the lives of 49 Negrenses as of this writing.
Several others remain missing — truly heartbreaking.
The number of casualties may even surpass those recorded during super typhoons “Yolanda” and “Odette”, which also ravaged Negros Occidental on November 8, 2013, and December 16, 2021, respectively.
A month after “Odette” struck, 51 Negrenses were confirmed dead. During “Yolanda”, 44 were reported missing.
With “Tino”, the number of fatalities and missing persons continues to rise.
The question now is: why did this happen?
In terms of strength, “Yolanda” and “Odette” were far more powerful than “Tino” — that’s a fact. So what factors led to the alarming death toll this time?
Alertness is key. Advance and effective communication matters. And this is supposed to be the core function of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
If the PDRRMO, headed by Irene Bel Ploteña, knew how to play its role well, perhaps many of these lives could have been spared.
NO “IT”
Frankly, if the PDRRMO under Ploteña knew how to execute effective communication before and during disasters, many lives could have been saved.
But the truth is, from any angle, the PDRRMO shows no “it” factor — none of the competence and dynamism vital in times of calamity.
And as for Ploteña, where is she in all this? Is she visible on social media? Heard on radio? Quoted in online and print reports?
She should be the face and voice of disaster preparedness — giving regular briefings through traditional and digital platforms whenever a typhoon threatens the province. Her presence should be round-the-clock.
The PDRRMO, under her leadership, should interpret PAGASA forecasts in layman’s terms, explain the storm’s trajectory, and go beyond basic weather reporting.
She should be loud, clear, and authoritative — qualities essential to her position.
Alas, the PDRRMO does none of these. It merely releases statistics on affected persons and areas through the Provincial Information Office (PIO).
Beyond infographics using standard templates, the PDRRMO offers nothing.
‘UNWANTED LEGACY’
Gov. Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson must reflect on this troubling reality within the PDRRMO’s leadership. He must take a macro view and not just defend Ploteña.
Both Lacson and Ploteña cannot be absolved from accountability. Many Negrenses died and went missing because of “Tino”.
The capitol’s and PDRRMO’s guiding principle should always be zero casualty. The PDRRMO must ensure that Negrenses are well-informed on how to stay safe during typhoons and other calamities.
Sadly, the office seems to need a more capable chief.
Before becoming PDRRMO head, Ploteña was reportedly a researcher — not a disaster risk reduction practitioner.
She faces the enormous challenge of filling the shoes of her predecessors, Joemarie Vargas and Zephard Caelian.
If I were to rate her performance on a scale of 1 to 10, Ploteña would still be at 1.
DEPENDENT ON RADIOS
Many of those who perished during Tino relied on battery-powered transistor radios. They lived in upland and rural communities with little to no access to the internet, let alone social media.
During their time, Vargas and Caelian maximized both traditional and digital media. They clearly explained the hazards and told people what to do to stay safe.
Vargas, under former governor Lito Coscolluela, used radio extensively to translate technical weather bulletins into simple, understandable messages.
Caelian, appointed by the late governors Joseph and Freddie Marañon, was among the best PDRRMO heads Negros Occidental ever had. Sadly, politics drove him out of the Capitol.
BEYOND POLITICS
Positions at the PDRRMO — especially the leadership — should be insulated from politics. Appointments must be based on skills, competence, and an innate understanding of disasters and calamities.
A PDRRMO head should be as articulate and knowledgeable as the late Ernie Baron or Kuya Kim Atienza — witty, authoritative, and clear in delivering weather updates and risk analyses.
The head must not remain incognito during crises.
In Ploteña’s case, she should be the one reaching out to the media, not the other way around. Reporters shouldn’t have to “call her out” or “look for her” just to get official information.
RESIGN NOW!
Now that “Tino” has killed more than four dozen Negrenses, will Governor Lacson continue to tolerate inefficient leadership at the PDRRMO?
The current death toll and number of missing persons are a big slap on both the PDRRMO and the Lacson administration. Millions of pesos worth of food packs and relief goods cannot undo the tragic loss of lives.
If the PDRRMO had done its job well, many of these deaths could have been prevented.
Why? Because warnings and advisories matter most before the disaster, not after the storm passes.
The PDRRMO must understand that effective disaster communication goes beyond releasing statistics. It’s about issuing meaningful, timely warnings that save lives — not merely counting casualties and damaged structures afterward.
Ploteña must act as a true disaster risk reduction leader — equipped with science-based knowledge and the ability to explain things in ways the masa can easily understand.
But does she possess those qualities?
To save the PDRRMO — and Governor Lacson’s image — Ploteña should resign now. She should not wait for another disaster to expose the same failures.
PERFORMANCE AUDIT
Governor Lacson must conduct a performance audit of the PDRRMO. He must examine what truly went wrong.
Negrenses deserve more than Facebook infographics. They deserve a capable, communicative, and responsive PDRRMO head.
People pay the salaries and benefits of PDRRMO employees. Thus, they have every right to ask: Where is Ploteña in times of crisis? Is she communicating what the public truly needs to know?
The governor must avoid being “blind, mute, and deaf.” With poor leadership at the PDRRMO, Negros Occidental will only continue to invite more disasters — and that is a tragedy we cannot afford./PN
