Except for some occassional Kris Kringles, making a Christmas wishlist had never been a personal tradition during the Yuletide season. I make an exception this year as the aftermath of the 'visit' of Ondoy and Pepeng has left me wanting some things. Here are the first five that comes immediately to mind:
1. RUBBER BOATS - The massive flooding has exposed the unpreparedness of the LGU's and the national government to handle such crisis. I do hope that the government invest on such things. Make it a priority project. Isn't this what pork barrels are for? Rich public and private officials and individuals can also donate some. Hey, if you can offer the first couple and entourage dinner at Le Cirque, why not donate some rubber boats?
2. WEATHER AND FORECASTING EQUIPMENT - For a country hit by at least 20 typhoons a year, our very own PAGASA can only make forecast every 24 hours! I don't blame them. They have to make do with the equipment that they have. Let me make a concrete proposal. In addition to their annual budget, give PAGASA a million pesos from each of the congressman's pork barrel and two million pesos from each of the senator's pork barrel. Do this until such time that PAGASA can do an accurate forecast every 12 hours.
3. WARNING PROTOCOLS AND DEVICES - According to friends' stories, flooding in Cainta started at around 9am on September 26. The nearby Concepcion, Marikina area started being flooded at around 12 nn. Yet, when flooding occurred in our area at Nangka, Marikina, many people were caught unaware. The touted public address system in our barangay remained quiet. Again, let me make a concrete proposal. Equip key persons in the locality with megaphones. Let me make a more advanced proposal. Use the power of text messaging. Let us put some use in our being the 'text capital' of the world. Identify key persons. Collect their cellphone numbers in a database. Create texting protocols (eg text BAHA *code* *password* where *code* refers to the height of the flood, say 1 for 'lubog ang paa', 2 for 'tuhod', 3 for 'bewang', 4 for 'leeg', and 5 for 'lagpas tao'). Create a feedback system. The next mayor of Marikina can make this a pilot project for other cities to adapt.
4. BETTER PROTOCOLS FOR DAM WATER RELEASE - Calling all mathematicians (including myself). Rate of change in rainfall. Rate of flow of water. Water capacity of rivers and lakes. Direction of flow. Sounds like differential equations to me. Put into account that dam operators want to maximize water intake before the release of water. Maximize profit while minimizing damage to properties and lives. Sounds like a good research.
5. A BONFIRE FOR EVERYONE'S HEART - Let me make this last one a symbolic wish. Bonfire is storytelling with friends. Bonfire is warmth of the family. Bonfire is lying on the grass and making wishes as falling stars go by. Collectively we have a troubled heart right now. As a colleague puts it, each individual is in a state of calamity. It is my desire that with my bonfire wish, the warmth of generosity, the flames of hope, the sparkles of happiness, the passion for reaching out, continue to burn in everyone's heart.
Well, Santa can easily grant me my last wish. It's no cost to him. I do believe that I have been more nice than naughty this year. I just hope that Santa reads my blog.
1. RUBBER BOATS - The massive flooding has exposed the unpreparedness of the LGU's and the national government to handle such crisis. I do hope that the government invest on such things. Make it a priority project. Isn't this what pork barrels are for? Rich public and private officials and individuals can also donate some. Hey, if you can offer the first couple and entourage dinner at Le Cirque, why not donate some rubber boats?
2. WEATHER AND FORECASTING EQUIPMENT - For a country hit by at least 20 typhoons a year, our very own PAGASA can only make forecast every 24 hours! I don't blame them. They have to make do with the equipment that they have. Let me make a concrete proposal. In addition to their annual budget, give PAGASA a million pesos from each of the congressman's pork barrel and two million pesos from each of the senator's pork barrel. Do this until such time that PAGASA can do an accurate forecast every 12 hours.
3. WARNING PROTOCOLS AND DEVICES - According to friends' stories, flooding in Cainta started at around 9am on September 26. The nearby Concepcion, Marikina area started being flooded at around 12 nn. Yet, when flooding occurred in our area at Nangka, Marikina, many people were caught unaware. The touted public address system in our barangay remained quiet. Again, let me make a concrete proposal. Equip key persons in the locality with megaphones. Let me make a more advanced proposal. Use the power of text messaging. Let us put some use in our being the 'text capital' of the world. Identify key persons. Collect their cellphone numbers in a database. Create texting protocols (eg text BAHA *code* *password* where *code* refers to the height of the flood, say 1 for 'lubog ang paa', 2 for 'tuhod', 3 for 'bewang', 4 for 'leeg', and 5 for 'lagpas tao'). Create a feedback system. The next mayor of Marikina can make this a pilot project for other cities to adapt.
4. BETTER PROTOCOLS FOR DAM WATER RELEASE - Calling all mathematicians (including myself). Rate of change in rainfall. Rate of flow of water. Water capacity of rivers and lakes. Direction of flow. Sounds like differential equations to me. Put into account that dam operators want to maximize water intake before the release of water. Maximize profit while minimizing damage to properties and lives. Sounds like a good research.
5. A BONFIRE FOR EVERYONE'S HEART - Let me make this last one a symbolic wish. Bonfire is storytelling with friends. Bonfire is warmth of the family. Bonfire is lying on the grass and making wishes as falling stars go by. Collectively we have a troubled heart right now. As a colleague puts it, each individual is in a state of calamity. It is my desire that with my bonfire wish, the warmth of generosity, the flames of hope, the sparkles of happiness, the passion for reaching out, continue to burn in everyone's heart.
Well, Santa can easily grant me my last wish. It's no cost to him. I do believe that I have been more nice than naughty this year. I just hope that Santa reads my blog.
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