The Aftermath: Ondoy Redux?

At the time of this writing, Northern Luzon is still reeling from the double whammy that was Pedring and Quiel (international names Nesat and Nalgae, respectively) and what can I say, what happened now is even worse than previous typhoons because floodwaters are only stubbornly receding. I saw in a newspaper that the total damage would probably exceed that of typhoon Ondoy.

Climate change is a reality, whether we accept that fact or not. However, government response and preparations for such changes are still sadly inadequate. So it now falls to the individual to prepare as best as possible for different disaster scenarios.

A few weeks ago, my friends and I were fortunate enough to meet Ed Guevara. He is the founder of Geo Farms in Pangasinan. Geo Farms came into existence in 1991 and is one of the first, if not the first, eco-sustainable farms in the Philippines. They grow organic spirulina as well as a host of other organic products like tanlad (lemongrass), mint, etc. For those with a more esoteric mindset, the whole farm has a layout that follows the principles of sacred geometry.

Ed also teaches disaster preparation and survival. At the farm, they teach courses on how to prepare grab bags, how to make a survival boat using plastic drum and pvc pipes, and how to create a life vest using empty plastic water bottles. These are all skills that small communities can practice not only for disaster preparedness but also as a source of livelihood.

Ed explains that there are always three phases when it comes to disaster preparation: Before, During and After. The most critical portion is Before because this is the only time you can learn the skills and prepare the equipment necessary. The During phase will last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. And finally, you must also have a plan for After, because what happens during a disaster can affect your long-term continuance and survival (for example, the forced evacuation of residents around the Fukushima power plant because of high levels of radiation).

Whatever level of preparedness you are looking for, taking up the disaster preparation and survival seminar of Ed Guevara should be part of your Before plans.

If you are interested in finding out more about Geo Farms, you may visit the Geo Farm website.