A few thoughts from Typhoon Ondoy

The material damage caused by the typhoon translates to more spending for repair and relief, even  with money spent from overseas. In turn, it may be enough to stimulate the economy. Think of this as a positive, unexpected side-effect. Its not that I am glad that the typhoon destroyed some P20 billion in damages... I too lost all my belongings in the flood, except for my bag and cellphone, but with all this spending going on to aleviate the situation of the victims, the market might be brighter as the people recover from this tragedy.

-----=====-----

With all the diggings, excavations and so called improvements on the metro sewage system. With all the headache it all gave the motorists and pedestrians alike. You would expect them to work properly when a typhoon came.

Espana River (formerly Espana, in front of UST)  is an exemption. Kahit may umihi lang na kabayo dun, flooded na agad.

-----=====-----

Its surprising to know that, despite being a country which is always pelted by monsoons and typhoons, the central agency concerned with dealing with the relief efforts (the National Disaster Coordinating Council, or NDCC...the FEMA of the Philippnes) has an annual allocation of only P1billion. And as Ondoy hits the country, there is only P24million left, with still hundred of families trapped in submerged houses.

What da fack are they thinking, with such a menial allocation?

Maybe they're busy diverting allocations for their pork barrel, the only part of the National Budget which gets the fastest approval.

-----=====-----

Watching the news the other night when there was a press release from SSS (Social Security System)  that people can avail of their calamity fund. The spokesperson said 'you can get your loan within 1 to 2 days'.

HAH!!!!!!!!!! 

I have two officemates who applied for their loans and it took 2 years before he could claim his loan. Not to mention the additional 1 and a half years for the ID. You could get those things done at SM for 2 hours.

And the common phrase at the counter: "Offline system namin e, di ma access ang records at di ma process ang loans". When you come back week after week, they say the same thing. They must check again with their computer and software supplier...it looks like they were sold millions of pesos worth of techno-scrap.