We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died due to typhoon “Sendong.” We share their grief and pain over the loss of their loved ones and the destruction of the little property that they have. We share their desire to rebuild and recover.
We are calling on the Filipino workers and people to extend all the support that we can to our fellow workers and Filipinos in the Visayas and Mindanao who are devastated by typhoon “Sendong.” We are calling on our unions, federations, regional chapters and mass organizations to gather donations. The KMU National Office is open to all forms of donations.
We reject the attempt of Undersecretary Benito Ramos, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, to lay the blame for the devastation caused by typhoon “Sendong” on the people of the Visayas and Mindanao who are affected by the typhoon.
Given the extent of the devastation – an estimated 700 dead and entire communities washed away – it is clear that mere warnings are not enough. The government’s capacity for prompt evacuation, and the soundness of its disaster preparedness plan, are put into question.
The devastation caused by typhoon “Sendong” also highlights the destruction of the environment in Mindanao and the Visayas due to flagrant large-scale mining and logging. We need to put an end to these amidst the threats posed by climate change to our people.
Given the changing weather patterns in the world due to climate change, it is of utmost necessity for the country to beef up our disaster preparedness and stop the plunder of our environment.
Sadly, given the country’s experience with previous typhoons and despite the government’s repeated assurances about disaster preparedness, the Aquino government was again caught flat-footed, this time by the onslaught of typhoon “Sendong” in the country.
In recent months, Pres. Aquino used “disaster preparedness” as an excuse for beefing up the country’s military strength. It is now clear that the allotment of bigger and bigger resources to the military does not enable it to respond to a strong typhoon like “Sendong.”
Pres. Aquino has no vision of making the country prepared for disasters and ending the wanton destruction of our environment.
The Sendong tragedy, above all, shows how massive deaths and destruction of properties are effects of imperialists’ plunder of the country’s resources through large-scale mining, quarrying, logging, and land conversion. The previous governments, all puppets of US imperialism, should also be held accountable for the loss of lives because they facilitated the entry and operation of giant foreign companies in Mindanao and the Visayas that have resulted in such destruction over the years.
