Prepare vs unexpected events

In any endeavor, activity, or situation in daily living, preparedness can make all the difference in the world.

First, we must always be prepared to fulfill the duties and responsibilities that we commit to, whether in service to the public or in private entrepreneurship.

Preparedness has consistently proven effective in mitigating the impact of calamities like typhoons, floods, landslides, and volcanic eruptions.

On orders of President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr., we prepared extensively for possible natural disasters during my stint as head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. We prepositioned relief goods in calamity-prone areas to facilitate distribution to those who needed them.

We cannot predict earthquakes, but we can prepare for the possibility of a strong earthquake like what just occurred in Turkey. Over 40,000 people died there, and the death toll continues to rise as more victims remain trapped under the rubble.

Early Wednesday morning, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Masbate City and shook other provinces, including Sorsogon, Cebu, Albay, and Camarines Sur.

Similar tremors devastated Abra Province and Davao Oriental last year, and powerful earthquakes have hit various parts of the country in previous years, like Bohol and Baguio City.

It is best to be ready for the unexpected.

We must seriously rehearse the fire drills to get people to safety in residential and commercial areas in case of earthquakes.

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THIS WE’LL DEFEND

Not least of all, we must always be prepared to defend Philippine sovereignty against any external threat.

We must always be prepared to protect ourselves, our families, and our fellow Filipinos during the war. The struggle for freedom and independence broadly defines our national history.

Unfortunately, all is not quiet on the waterfront now.

After the Philippine Senate rejected the extension of the US military bases treaty in 1991, the Chinese began to swarm the South China Sea, including the Philippine territories. Beijing disregards the Hague International Tribunal ruling that upholds Philippine sovereignty over WPS.

Much that PBBM would like us to be a “friend to all nations and enemy to none,” tension continues to rise over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) dispute due to repeated infractions by the Chinese militia in WPS.

We must prepare well as a nation to face the challenges and any inevitable eventuality.