When the ground shakes, so should gov’t priorities

The devastating earthquake that struck General Santos City and neighboring communities is a grim reminder that the Philippines remains one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. For many Filipinos, the tragedy inevitably revives fears of “The Big One,” the long-anticipated major earthquake expected to affect Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. While seismologists caution against linking separate earthquake events as direct precursors, the destruction in Mindanao should serve as a warning that preparedness cannot remain a talking point reserved for annual disaster drills.

As in previous calamities, the disaster revealed both the best and worst traits of Filipinos. Ordinary citizens, civic groups, churches and volunteers mobilized almost immediately to assist affected families. Yet government response once again appeared trapped in a familiar pattern. Relief operations seemed to gain momentum only after the obligatory visits of public officials, accompanied by TV cameras and photojournalists. Communities in remote areas reported waiting far longer for aid than for media coverage.

The contrast is difficult to ignore. Government agencies often cite damaged roads and logistical obstacles, yet television crews somehow manage to reach disaster zones within hours. If journalists can access these areas to document suffering, public institutions should be able to deliver food, water, medicine and shelter with equal urgency.

Unfortunately, the tragedy unfolds at a time when national attention is focused elsewhere. The country’s political leadership remains consumed by an escalating struggle for control of the Senate, maneuvering that many perceive as connected to the impeachment trial of the Vice President. Simultaneously, controversy continues to swirl around sensational allegations involving supposed cash deliveries to public officials, including the President.

The decision to air such testimonies inside the Senate chamber inevitably bestowed a degree of credibility with claims subject to microscopic inquiry. Those who promoted the allegations may have underestimated the capacity of institutions such as the National Bureau of Investigation and the Ombudsman to separate political theater from evidence.

With the impeachment trial approaching and the President’s State of the Nation Address drawing near, time is running short. The nation needs leaders focused less on political combat and more on governance. Earthquakes do not wait for Senate power struggles to end. Neither should the government’s response to those whose lives have been shattered by disaster.