When a series of earthquakes hit Nepal last April and May, more than 9,000 were killed and more than 20,000 were left injured. It was a humanitarian crisis that shocked the world, particularly other Southeast Asian nations, into making sense of their own disaster prevention and mitigation plans.

A metro-wide earthquake drill, dubbed the “Metro Manila Shake Drill,” was thus hastily scheduled for July 30. Local government units also conducted their own drills, spurred on by the looming reality of the “Big One”—a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that is projected to kill more than 50,000 in Metro Manila.

The Ateneo released a statement in June, explaining the university’s decision to retrofit three buildings on campus that lie close to the West Valley Fault (WVF)—a 100-kilometer fault line whose movement is expected to trigger the “Big One.”

According to a statement released by the Ateneo in September 2013, none of the Ateneo campus buildings sit directly on the WVF. However, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned them that everything within five kilometers of the WVF would most likely be severely damaged in the event of an earthquake.

“In such an event, what matters is preparedness,” the statement read.

While there is no doubt that the earthquake drills and various renovations in the Ateneo are a step in the right direction insofar as disaster prevention is concerned, one cannot help but wonder: Have our efforts towards “preparedness” come a little too late?

It is not just a matter of earthquakes.

Each year, there are innumerable disaster risk reduction actions against the consequences of flooding due to typhoons. There are evacuation centers set up and systems planned for collecting and distributing relief goods, among others.

However, little is done in terms of actual prevention. According to a Philippine Daily Inquirer article published in 2012, experts say that flooding in the Philippines is man-made, a combination of poor urban planning and drainage systems. Not all disasters, it seems, are caused by natural mechanisms­­—human folly plays its role as well.

There is a clear tendency to focus on mitigating consequences instead of plumbing the roots of problems to properly address them. It is a reactionary culture, to only act when spurred on by fears, be it from experience of the past or projections of a future.

It has often proven to be a costly and even dangerous predisposition. Addressing issues only for their potential repercussions without considering what may be deeply-ingrained allows for a repetition of disasters, as only the surface is scratched.

We must acknowledge the need to develop a sense of foresight and disaster preparedness that goes beyond mere reaction. “Preparedness” should mean addressing the roots of issues ahead of time, instead of fighting their potential consequences at the last minute. It should involve far-reaching solutions, instead of solutions meant only for our immediate survival.

It is about being prepared not just for the Big One, but for the next ones as well.