Left Flank

Typhoon «Frank»-why have an international nomenclature system if the locals insist on anthropomorrphizing disaster their own way-or «Fengshen» allows Quezon some the opportunity for two good points amidst the humanitarian tragedy.

1. Is incompetence the new way to govern?

Matters can only have been compounded by the perpetually ad hoc nature of emergency response measures, and how nothing really functions unless the big bosses are around the lean on their subordinates. It's only been a few weeks since the national government came in for strong criticism over its sluggish handling of the typhoon damage to Pangasinan. And yet it was only yesterday that NDCC convenes in wake of 'Frank'.

This basic reality of what passes for government management in our country, helps explain why whatever the President does, there really is no substitute for her being here, and for her subordinates being here, either. You'd think that our officials, who've borrowed so many pages from the Republican playbook, would have learned the lessons taught by Bush's plummeting in the ratings because of his response to Hurricane Katrina.

2. When is the right to vote a bit just not enough?

Urban poor areas in Manila hardest hit by floods presents a political Catch-22 for local governments, too: humanitarian considerations, and the responsibilities of leadership, requires mayors and governors to dissuade residents from rebuilding in areas notoriously flood-prone (I have read many press accounts from the past, in which local and national leaders intervened, by force if necessary, to prevent residents from rebuilding in areas proven to be disaster-prone, but that was then); but to do so now would mean alienating manageable votes. So nothing will be done, which only means the casualties will pile up the next time, but perhaps not before the next elections.

It's scary to think President Bush's handling of Hurricane Katrina could inspire imitation.

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