MANILA, Philippines - Governmentreadiness in the face of the onslaught of supertyphoon "Juan" (international name: Megi) showed that advance preparations help to minimize massive loss of lives and billions of pesos in damage to agriculture and infrastructure. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) of the Department of Science and Technology did a good job in tracking the typhoon's movement.
Its hourly bulletins served as guides for all those involved in rescue and relief operations such as the Philippine National Red Cross, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, local government units, non-government organizations, schools, private companies, and individuals, to craft their own contingency plans, even prior to the onslaught of the typhoon. There was no report of the deaths caused by "Ondoy" and "Pepeng" last year which caught the whole of Luzon flatfooted. It is clear that early and continued typhoon warnings are effective in guiding national and local agencies in instituting contingency measures, including mobilizing people and resources, preparing evacuation centers, stockpiling on food and water, and putting in place relief and rescue efforts. In times of disaster and tragedy , it really pays for the government and people to be vigilant and alert. Judging from the success of the collective preparations for "Juan," it is certain that in the next typhoon, the country will be better prepared to achieve the goal of "zero casualty."
