Published January 31, 2001

I can't help it. Those images of earthquake victims in India simply bring back memories of 1990 when we went through a similar catastrophe. Curious though that it had to happen now, or anytime at all. It's just that we've been enjoying some really fine weather that it's sad memories just don't fit.

More than that, however, is that we are made to wondering again whether we are prepared, heaven forbid, for another such disaster. The odds against that, of course, are in our favor. And yet, there are no guarantees.

These are also fair weather days when the likes of typhoons, landslides and rain-related accidents may be furthest from mind. Fires would most probably be immediate concern. Whichever, are we ready?

A couple of months ago, I wrote about the degree of comfort derived from seeing firemen and other disaster control personnel demonstrating their rescue skills. That assurance, however, now seems lacking in light of this week's visual reminders.

For one, the scale of destruction in India showed how many of the collapsed building were in all likelihood proper building standards were not applied. Recall now that the same question was raised over how easily, and murderously, buildings in our quake-stricken area crumbled. The promised investigations and eventual prosecution of suspected felons, unfortunately, have slipped into that limbo called convenient amnesia. In fact, here in Baguio, it is a fact that so-called condemned buildings have amazingly been rehabilitated and are doing nice business, thank you.

Think also: Have our building laws been strictly enforced since the big quake? We're not talking of just structural regulations here.

The boom in construction, especially during those heady days of three and two years ago, appears to have blinded many to the resolve to allow only sound structures but also to ensuring that zoning ordinances are strictly implemented. Public rights-of-way have been violated, as have basic laws protecting public properties and reservations. And, whatever happened to all the talk to put a cap to the number of building storeys? Should it be a wonder that the public perception of City Hall is one of deep suspicion?

And why not? When a public road is allowed to be encroached on, that constitutes a danger to public safety, not to mention the legal infraction to start with. Leasing a city park to private business is itself prohibited, a fault that could be compounded by the instability of the property in the first place. And so it goes, one questionable transaction after another. Then, with the elections just around the corner, let's not be surprised if more are done.

Consider now the season of fires, also around the corner. What is being done about the many firetraps? We've all seen how safety regulations have been brushed aside. The least that must be done is to correct the anomalies and force compliance with regulations if only to prevent any loss of lives. It is a principle in disaster preparedness that what one may lack in equipment and personnel, that can be made up for in prevention.

The same attention to prevention could well be applied this early as we take advantage of good weather to be more comfortable with the annual monsoon.

The world has shrunk so quickly and so much that all it takes is to get on the electronic world to tap into the common sense of averting disasters. Out there are tried and tested procedures that, although simple and inexpensive, and therefore low profile and not publicly spectacular, can result in less tragedies.

These are just basic and random thoughts brought on by events elsewhere. Even so, I'd say they could provide for just that quick a reminder of what has to be done, here and now.

Beg pardon, however, if warnings and joggings of memory interrupt the enjoyment of the blue skies and bright days. Thinking disaster on summery days may not exactly be pleasant but doing so just might greyer days less so.