If you stay quiet enough, I bet you can hear all the back patting and ass kissing that is surely going on in the corridors of the Malacanang, the Department of Science and Technology, and PAGASA.
Proof of which is this rather GLOWING story about it on the Inquirer titled PAGASA: Team RP proves World Wrong.
Here's Usec. Yumul thumping his chest:
Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said international news reports last weekend had been saying that heavy damage to life and property was expected in the Philippines, being a developing country with weak houses and infrastructure.
“I think we were able to prove them wrong,” said Yumul, the OIC of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Yumul said government preparedness and the people’s cooperation helped minimize the losses from Super-typhoon “Juan” (international codename: Megi), which made landfall in Isabela province on Monday.
“I think Typhoon Juan showed you Team Philippines,” he said at a briefing in Malacañang.Here's President Noynoy Aquino, patting his back:
President Benigno Aquino III commended PAGASA and the departments of science and technology, of national defense, of social welfare and development, and the national disaster council.
“I am very happy to report to the public that everyone has delivered. The thorough preparations of all concerned agencies are in marked contrast to the official helplessness of the past, and at present, we haven’t had to ask the public to contribute outside resources,” the President said.
Here are the facts that they buried under the spin:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20101020-298778/Juan-devastates-200000
As typhoon Juan (international code name: Megi) leaves the country, it has left in its wake more than 200,000 people homeless, 11 dead, and 16 others injured, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.
Citing its latest tally as of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the former National Disaster Coordinating Council said Juan has affected a total of 39,847 families or 215,037 people from the provinces Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga Tarlac, Zambales, Rizal, Cavite, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Metro Manila.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20101019-298606/Damage-to-crops-at-least-P155BDA
Damage to agriculture dealt by super-typhoon Juan was estimated to be at least P1.55 billion, with rice and vegetable farmers taking heavy losses, the Department of Agriculture said Tuesday.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup said the estimate was “conservative” as Region I losses were still being verified as of Tuesday.
Reports received by the DA as of 11 a.m. showed that 70,000 metric tons of palay was damaged, but Salacup said this volume was much lower than their worst-case scenario of 600,000 MT.
“We hope that this trend of minimal losses will continue,” he said in a phone interview.Here's something Yumul should probably post on his office wall:
1 comment:
Seriously, these people need to shut up. That amount of damage does not constitute a success by any stretch of the imagination. They could say, "We're pleased that our preparations and the attention of the public limited the damage to less than it could have been, however, we must now focus on cleaning up and assisting those affected by it." That would make too much sense, though.
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