Pinayuhan kahapon ni Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto ang pamahalaan na paghandaan ang paparating na bagyong ‘Neneng’ at ‘Ompong’, sa halip na pagtuunan ang ibang isyu.

Aniya, hindi biro ang dalawang magkasunod na bagyo, lalo pa at inilarawang nasa category 5, o maaaring maging “super typhoon” ang Ompong (International name: Mangkhut).

“This is not to sound alarmist, but prevention and anticipation are better than denial. Because when a typhoon hits, it doesn’t choose its targets based on their political affinity. There are no Yellows or DDS or Reds when calamity strikes,” ani Recto.

Ayon sa senador, dapat ayusin ang mga communication lines, upang mabigyan ng sapat na babala ang sambayanan.

Mahalaga rin, aniya, na magpatawag ng pulong ang lahat ng ahensiya na nasa ilalim ng disaster body upang matiyak na ligtas ang mamamayan.

“We are already reeling from the man-made calamity that is inflation and high prices of goods. A natural calamity like a typhoon has the potential of exacerbating our problems exponentially,” giit ni Recto.

Aniya, ang paghagupit ng bagyo ay tiyak na lalong magpapataas pa sa presyo ng mga bilihin dahil maaantala nito ang “law of supply and demand”.

Pinakikilos din kahapon ni Davao City 1st District Rep. Karlo Nograles ang National Food Authority (NFA) na apurahin ang pamimili ng palay sa mga lokal na magsasaka bago pa manalasa sa bansa ang super bagyo.

“The NFA has not had a good track record in procuring rice from local farmers, but if there is a time for them to step up and intensify their rice procurement operations, this is it,” sabi ni Nograles, chairman ng House committee on appropriations.

“The NFA has to try to secure as much rice locally because one, if they do not buy the palay stocks, these might be adversely affected by the coming super typhoon. Two, if the country continues to get hit by strong typhoons, the NFA will need a healthy buffer stock to allow it to distribute rice for government relief operations in the provinces that will be affected,” aniya pa.

-LEONEL M. ABASOLA at ELLSON A. QUISMORIO