We Couldn't Care LESS about the Weather

 

While scientists from all over have sounded the alarm button, the country is STILL, hand tied to age-old issues of territorial integrity, food insecurity, and more.

Months and months after El Nino were sounded to warn the public about the harmful effects of this weather phenomenon, not much has been done locally to cushion the impact of El Nino and help the ordinary citizens who ply the streets, dare face the sun, or commute to and from their work / home locations.

The ordinary men on streets who cannot brag and flaunt their luxury vehicles, people who cannot squeal they have the latest floor standing aircons at home; individuals who are yearning for help, and comfort amidst a stagnant country that is not divided by political ideaologies but divided by individual economic interests.

Nobody seems to complain really in such resounding voice that no political will was shown to at least give a perceive convenience of the populace in times of hot fiery weather.

Not a simple bottle was distributed out on the streets in major thoroughfares where commuters ply-- at least none that was seen by this writer. On a better scale of help gratuity to the ordinary people who continue to "wheelbarrow" the economy, no potable water drinking stations were erected by local authorities in their turf of servitude .  

Old shades, roofed to serve, have been kept situated in clouted areas of seen and be seen for the pedestrians and hangers on for PUVs.  Despite the dangerous heat index pronounced, public shades have not been augmented to help more "urbanistas" to get a respite from the hot weather.  

The 33 degrees heat index maximum that was incessantly declared by authorities up to the 56 degrees (great heavens have mercy!) forecast day in and day out in previous months since March, would have been a stern warning to communities from all over to get together for a resolute action to climate change.

It was a mere simplistic move that can observed down to the bottomfare as people merely resorted to buying more and more umbrellas and having makeshift roofing in their own homes-- that have no impact in cushioning or resolving on a long-term approach, the troubles of El Nino phenom.  

Perhaps we can call our country brave-- for braving El Nino as if it is nothing, but a typical weather that must be endured. 

But scientists have resounded that this kind of weather is here to stay; a crushing reality not just for the poor unventilated homes of families that cannot already purchase ordinary aircons, much more have vehicles in hefty rides with their chaperones and concierge or service drivers.

Would you believe that despite the prevalence of aircons in the metropolis, a lot remain unbought in big appliance centers around town?  We are not mentioning even the difference of inverter aircon from ordinary aircon. Surmise to say, not one effort has been exerted to understand the consumers' heartline of not buying aircon that is as essential these days, as a matter of survival to everyone in the most urban of cities embattled by the hot weather.

For those who have not sweltered the blistering sun of late, going out at the peak of an El Nino day that has a lashing out this past summer, could already be an unbearable ordeal for an ordinary pedestrian, even when exposed for about 15 minutes only, a usual time for waiting on the side prior to a ride or walking from block to block in a community.  

An ordinary citizen without the benefit of being driven around, and having a sparse access to public utility rides, have to peruse walk on a large main thoroughfare in the city, that is unmangered, and beatenly "exposed" to the sun, without an overpass or underpass in sight for emerging urban city "dwellers".

The results of sun exposure are catastrophic not simply in terms of monetary value to rice and crops, but also to the health conditions of individuals who have gone through a lot of health challenges already, during the pandemic.

Into a 5-minute sun exposure with a 33-heat index, the ordinary body already reacts disturbingly, with sweating, and palpitation and no ordinary shade would be enough to at least make the experience less of a suffer.

Urban officials must rethink their social policies in managing housing developments.  Local authorities must also think higher in terms of giving the necessary protection to ordinary citizens  whose daily human activities cannot be stopped, even when the weather has proven it is no longer conducive for a healthy survival. WE SIMPLY CANNOT IGNORE THE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES IN OUR LIFESTYLE, AND ABOLISH OUR OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS IN FACE OF A TERRIBLY HOT WEATHER GONE UTTERLY IGNORED.

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