We thank and praise God for sparing us from what could have been a double whammy for the Boholanos. Less than a month ago Bohol was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that not only traumatized the people but also crumpled to the ground edifices considered priceless icons of cultural heritage like our centuries old stone churches and drove thousands of families to live under makeshift tents. The world’s eyes focused on Bohol. Food relief items from government and private sector, even foreign countries poured in so much so that no one was left unserved. Then super typhoon Yolanda came last Friday that weather forecasters said was packing 215-260 kph winds and was poised to also hit Bohol. This news brought the disaster risk reduction management councils on their toes and knees to make sure everybody was prepared this time.

For a people known for their religiosity and resilience, Boholanos did what was physically needed to prepare but most of all, they lifted everything to God. True enough Yolanda came and left without leaving a casualty in terms of human life. For the believers, it was only by the act of God that Bohol was spared from the maximum force of the super typhoon. In the midst of these two crises are realizations (I won’t call them lessons) -Realizations about the uncontrollable power of nature and the goodness that are in the heart of people. Above all both incidents have taught our planners that foresight is the better tool of planning. By about 7 a.m. Friday a few hours after super typhoon Yolanda hit land in Eastern Visayas, all electric power was shut off in Bohol. As of this writing – almost 48 hours after Yolanda has left, power has remained off in all parts of the province not withstanding a very sunny weather. Typhoon Yolanda was telling us that Bohol needs to internally generate its own power so as not to be fully dependent upon the Tongonan, Leyte power source.

With its four big rivers, Bohol can well afford to establish hydro-electric power to supply its minimum need. The revival of the proposed Cantakoy Hydro Power Plant should be restudied. There was a time when Diesel Power Barges were moored at the AbatanRiver in Cortes. Whatever it is, Bohol must have its ready power. Otherwise any threat to Leyte will be a threat to Bohol. Now we know what disaster readiness really means. It’s a blessing and a grace from God that no life was lost despite the ferocity of super typhoon Yolanda.But that was also because our local governments have learned their lessons in disaster preparedness. Gone were the days when a disaster plan was put in place in paper. Now local governments know that plans must be executed for them to be effective. Thus when pre-emptive evacuation becomes clear, it means pre-emptive evacuation must be implemented. In this scenario, decisions no longer remain with the affected residents. It is with the implementing agencies of government. In Yolanda’s case that was done by both the province’ Risk Reduction Management Councils and those of the municipalities.

We commend our PDRRMC and all the MDRRMCs for a job well done. On the other hand, the much awaited testimony of Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brain of the P10B PDAF scam before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee dismayed the Filipino people and the Senate Committee. All she said during the almost day-long hearing was “I don’t know”, “hindipototoo yon”, or “I invoke my right against self-incrimination.” Not even the fiery and wily Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago could coax a single truth from her. For a high school graduate, she is a damned good liar. If what she implies by her demeanor at the Senate hearing that there is no one higher than her who is the brain of the PDAF scam, then why in …#*@#*… should she get all those protection from government? She should be jailed at the Makati City Jail with the other ordinary scoundrels that she wants us to believe she is.