The ‘bayanihan’ spirit among Filipinos is deeply rooted in the human desire for collective survival. It has been a virtue that had been passed down generations. In the Cordillera, it is commonly known as ‘binnadang’ or ‘ug-ugbo’ that serves as an inspiration and motivation for people to establish their respective groups with the purpose of helping others, especially the vulnerable and marginalized sectors.
In the past, there had been numerous scenarios where individuals and groups have displayed this virtue saving lives, protecting properties and re-establishing normalcy in communities allowing people to cope with difficult circumstances. ‘Binnadang’ is usually spontaneous response of groups or communities but it is also a principle of inherent disaster preparedness to collectively respond, often times immediately, to a disaster situation, without discrimination.
Lately, the ‘binnadang’ spirit among Cordillerans was demonstrated with the hardy work of volunteers to immediately open the washed out portion of the Pilando section of the Halsema Highway in barangay Gambang, Bakun, Benguet. Volunteers from all walks of life inside and outside the community came together, brought with them their units of equipment and willfully did their part in ensuring the immediate opening of the proposed access road and the restoration of the washed out portion to resume mobility along this lifeline road in the Cordillera.
On the other hand, concerned local officials also showed their utmost concern for the timely opening of the road and did their part to convince some land owners to allow their properties to be traversed by the proposed access road, even sacrificing their personal resources just to ensure that the proposed alternate route will be opened aside from allowing the use of their units of equipment to fastrack the work and allow the stranded motorists to be able to pass through. Further, other officials also worked out with the concerned government agencies some long term solutions to the perennial problem of the road being closed at the height of natural hazards that usually prevail in the region.
However, it is unfortunate that there had been numerous bashings that were done in the social media platforms where supporters of politicians had been exchanging allegations that evidently negated the very purpose of ‘binnadang.’ Each camp had their own narratives to portray to the extent of discrediting other parties and those who worked double time, especially the community volunteers, just to make sure that motorists can freely pass through the washed out portion or the access road to prevent the isolation of the people in the central Cordillera.
We believe that politics should be set aside and not take center stage in the response to this disaster. What should be highlighted is the ‘binnadang’ that was triggered once the disaster occurred and the need to remedy the situation to facilitate the movement of people along the highway was recognized. Within the neighboring communities, the people decided to take collective action despite their personal or political differences, just to make sure that the main road leading to the interior of the Cordillera is opened. The volunteers, especially the small-scale miners, the residents in the area, among others, deserve our outmost commendation because they helped in doing what is right, to do the necessary works without expecting anything in return. The small-scale miners even brought with them their units of equipment and did the risky works that was supposedly to be done by the contractor that was awarded a multi-million project in the area.
At this point in time, despite the incident being a force majeure, the responsibility of the contractor, the monitoring unit of the public works department, the local officials, and other relevant authorities should be properly assessed to pinpoint who should be accountable for this situation in Pilando. It is alleged that the contractor actually failed to do what had been expected by the people and the motorists that led to the unfortunate incident of the road section being washed out at the height of heavy rains last month.
We must salute all those, who, in one way or the other, painstakingly sacrificed their time, effort and resources that led to the immediate opening of the access road and eventually the restoration of this washed-out portion of the Halsema highway. Politics should be out of the picture here because it is the obligation of local officials to do their part as public servants to help in ensuring that works should be smoothly done for the opening of the access road and the restoration of the washed out portion of the road. These politicians parading as leaders should stop appropriating the efforts and works of others.
Let us not taint a bad image to the real purpose of ‘binnadang.’ We should instead work together to ensure the well-being of our communities. We understand the role of politicians but what is important is that they diligently work for the welfare of the greater majority of their constituents and not in aid of reelection.