On the ground: Why our country's leader should be at the forefront after a calamity
In the aftermath of calamities, Filipinos look to their leaders.
On Wednesday morning, July 27, a magnitude 7 earthquake shook Abra and several parts of Luzon. The calamity killed five people, left dozens injured, and damaged heritage structures as well as other buildings.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. addressed the public after the disaster in a press briefing, wherein he initially said he'll be "staying away" to let the local government units of the affected areas do their jobs first before he visits the struck Abra. This was the first calamity Marcos Jr. faced in his administration.
"I am staying away from going to the affected areas for a very simple reason: It has been my experience as a governor, it has been my experience in Yolanda that when the national officers come to the affected areas, ginugulo lang namin ang trabaho ng mga local," the president said.
"Pupunta ako dun, maghahanap pa ako ng mga pulis para mag-secure, kailangan akong i-meet ng mga local officials, marami silang ginagawa. So I said, 'Let them do their work. Let us wait for them to tell us what the true situation is.’ Maybe I can schedule a trip tomorrow as soon as possible.”
And while he made his statement, users on Twitter started asking, "Nasaan ang Pangulo?" while others looked to Atty. Leni Robredo's Angat Buhay organization to take action.
I really dunno how the epals are looking for Angat Buhay in this time of disaster. Why not reach to our government agencies first, because they should be the ones to take immediate action. #NasaanAngPangulo
— Eduard (@imeduardcullen) July 27, 2022
You know what LGU can do it's job. Your job is to become the image of strength and hope to the affected community. Nothing more, nothing less.#NasaanAngPangulo https://t.co/DBSxvsq38a
— Rigz (@iamrigzp) July 27, 2022
Northern provinces ang struck hard by the quake. It would be good sana if the President could address them in Ilocano di ba? #NasaanAngPangulo
— ♪🌻 m ч α c 🌻 ♪ | 💜Purple&Pink♀️ (@memamamyajin) July 27, 2022
Others defended the president, saying that he might not be on the ground, but he could be taking action in different ways.
Just because President BBM is not there in the disaster areas doesn't mean he is not doing anything. He can manage disaster response operations without going there. Yung mga nghahanap kung #NasaanAngPangulo, please educate yourself about EOC, ICS at Philippine RA 10121.
— Expossy (@CryptonaticLeon) July 27, 2022
In his stead, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo visited Abra province on July 27 afternoon to oversee the aid and assistance operations.
On Thursday morning, July 28, Marcos Jr. left Malacañang to visit Abra, check the situation, inspect damages, and be briefed on the rescue and relief efforts.
So why does a president need to be on the ground during calamities?
The president's role
During calamities, local government units are at the forefront of disaster management. But when the crisis gets serious, like an earthquake affecting most of Luzon, the national government steps in, according to University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Public Administration Assistant Professor Dr. Reginald Ugaddan.
"In times of disasters like this, [people] are looking at the president, the father figure of the country, na dapat andun siya," he told PhilSTAR L!fe. "A very important characteristic dapat is an engaging leader."
"Although the operational aspect of disaster management requires the local government to act at the forefront and respond immediately, the president should follow through kaagad," Ugaddan added.
Likewise, UP Diliman Political Science Associate Professor Dr. Jean Encinas-Franco highlighted the president's role in disaster management.
"The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and local government units know the situation on the ground. However, it is still important for the President to visit the afflicted areas to galvanize the efforts on the ground and see for himself the situation," she said.
According to Encinas-Franco, the country looks for a leader who "understands that leadership is a symbol" during times of crisis and is "the chief mourner when things are not okay."
When people in affected areas see the president on the ground, it's a relief to them, added Ugaddan.
"The role of the president may just give a statement, but the statement shouldn’t give the impression na ‘nasaan siya.’ The people listening to, hearing, and seeing him, it’s a relief for them," the professor said.
He added that the president shouldn't be expected in every calamity, but should be present in serious disasters.
"We may not expect him to be there all the time, but you have to see the damage, lalo na sa mamamayan. Yung nangyari dito sa Abra, it’s proper for the president to be there. It was the first disaster faced by his administration. There are lots of calamities that will be coming, that’s the reality, and it’s really important for us to see the president at the forefront."