We and the Flood

We and the Flood

By Roberto E. Reyes

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Blogger's Note: This is an article I wrote in 1971 (when I was 16 years old) for The Scale, the then official publication of Judge Juan Luna High School (JJLHS). I was its editor-in-chief. Please pardon any grammatical errors. I am republishing it as is, or without any editing. 

The flood has once more demonstrated to our people its awesome destructive power. And to say the least, unexpectedly. It did so rather easily as the Filipino who was caught flat-footed watched helplessly. Our leaders did not even know where to get the rescue facilities much less stop the rampaging angry waters. Succor came as usual mostly from the private sector and except for the few who would rather remain anonymous, people with selfish motives extended a helping hand for political and publicity purposes.

With Luzon including Manila and the suburbs still recovering from the ravages of the last deluge, our President and the mayor of Manila have again started cutting at each other’s throat, exchanges charges and counter-charges. President Marcos has asked Congress to appropriate 200 million pesos for the construction of a drainage system to end all floods. In doing so he deviated from his usual practice of creating a super committee after every calamity, hence, he contrived this plan. On the other hand, Mayor Villegas more sarcastically than serious, stated that provided with the needed logistics he will construct a drainage system in his city to last for generations. He blamed Malacañang for its refusal to release money due to the city to be used in his ambitious program.

Be that as it may, we have yet to witness these men’s golden words converted into genuine, concrete accomplishments. Meanwhile, the flood shall continue unabatedly to bring havoc on this poor land for more years to come and a solution has yet to be found. Always we would hear from our government officials grandiose programs of flood control only to see them dissipate as soon as the waters had gone and the first ray of the sun from the east shall have shown itself.

Isn’t there any end in sight to all this nonsense? Why don’t we for once face the real problem with a sincere plan? Haven’t we learned our lesson from the sad past?

It is high time that we roll up our sleeves and start working. Otherwise, the next victim may be you and I. And that may be too late.