JULY IS National Disaster Consciousness Month. This annual observance reminds us to be prepared before a disaster – natural or man-made – occurs.
According to the Climate Change Commission, the annual damage to agriculture due to typhoons, droughts and floods account for three percent of total agricultural production estimated to be worth P12 billion. We take note that our government has taken steps to adapt to the new norm. A World Bank study revealed that the Philippines has increased its budget by 26 percent in climate change adaptation programs. However, we need to review how we are using these funds. Most are usually allocated to address flooding, repair, and rehabilitation of infrastructure and sector support.
While it is very important that we repair damages on our infrastructure after each typhoon, we have to realize that there could be a better way of responding to the new norm we face today. We need to invest in building more resilient communities and infrastructure. Higher standards for flood control and drainage systems should be enforced. Rainwater catchment facilities and flood monitoring and warning systems need to be installed. We have numerous laws, including the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, that need to be strictly enforced.
Statistics on natural disasters show that, except for the July 1990 earthquake, the most devastating natural disaster in the Philippines in terms of economic damages are mostly due to storms and floods. Stranded commuters, long queues in public transport stations, students wading in flood waters, stalled cars, highways and streets inundated by flood waters, bancas in city streets as a mode of transportation — this has become a usual scenario as the new normal weather events bring voluminous rains, causing floods of various levels in the metropolis.
The torrential rains and the resulting floods not only affect the poor people and the working middle class; it also affects businesses, schools, government offices, trade industry and stock market; it affects the farmers whose crops are washed away by floods; and fisherfolks who would not be able to scour the seas for a bountiful catch due to the harsh weather.
We are not the only country that is facing this great challenge. Even the small island nation of Maldives, considers buying land in other countries because their nation is threatened by continuous inundation with water from rising sea levels.
The new norm is a big threat to our basic human rights—food, potable water, shelter, decent livelihood and life itself. No matter where we are in the world, the warming climate affects us all. We can only do so much to save the world, but we can give our best to save our home, our country.
