Are We Forced to Be Resilient?

 

    We are tired of being the country that is hit the most. The Philippines faces an average of 20 storms (bagyo) every year, and each one hits us harder than it should. Why? It is because the huge damage from these storms is made worse by the own failures of our Government. It is not enough to blame only the weather. The truth is that long-term failures, like not enough good roads and pipes, poor city planning, and ruining of our nature, turn heavy rain into a disaster. You know we live in danger, yet too many houses are built quickly in bad spots, and the canals are clogged up. A heavy rain should not turn into a deadly flood, but it does, washing away our life because of this neglect.

It is a loss that the sea level rises and temperatures go up, making it harder for our farmers and fishers to live and feed their families. But what is truly painful is that this damage is made worse because our natural protection is gone. We lose our land because people destroy our forests and reefs, and they get away with it because of poor leadership. People cut down trees and ruin the mangroves that are supposed to be our shields against the ocean's force. The agencies like the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) are in place to help, yet year after year, we are left completely exposed to the storm’s power.

Our hardship is not just about the weather, it is a money problem and a social injustice. The constant need to rebuild keeps us poor and afraid. We are forced to leave our homes for crowded cities, only to face terrible traffic, low wages, and broken infrastructure. But the biggest insult is the word "resilience." You call us strong while we suffer, using that word to avoid being blamed. You approve billions of pesos in budget every year, yet our roads flood, our people are stuck in traffic, and our homes are still washed away. We demand to know: Where does that money go? We ask for real change, not just empty promises that barely keep us afloat while we are slowly submerged. We will not be silent anymore.