TECH4GOOD
We do not need a nice play of words to describe the devastating impact of the recent climate swings that we have experienced. From months of extreme dryness and excruciating heat to heavy rains and floods, both have brought the country to a standstill, with tragic loss of lives and extensive damage to crops, properties, and infrastructure. In the aftermath, we see the usual response to all these disasters: evacuations, relief operations, and then back again. These typical band-aid responses have been ingrained in everyone's operating manuals.
Climate change is not a simple, one-dimensional issue. It's a complex, multidimensional phenomenon that we need to thoroughly understand in order to effectively address its impacts. This complexity underscores the crucial need for a deeper understanding of the issue. For now, let's focus on the impact of too much water.
Due to a combination of geographical, environmental, and socio-economic factors, the country is particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Floods are a persistent problem in the Philippines, which is located in the western Pacific Ocean, a region highly prone to tropical cyclones. On average, about 20 tropical cyclones enter Philippine waters each year, with about half making landfall. The country’s position in the Pacific typhoon belt makes it vulnerable to increasingly intense storms, a trend exacerbated by climate change.
As an archipelago consisting of over 7,000 islands, the Philippines has an extensive coastline that is exposed to rising sea levels and storm surges. The concentration of people and infrastructure in coastal metropolitan areas amplifies the potential impact of climate-related disasters. Losing some of those areas in Bulacan to rising sea levels, for example, would be a foregone conclusion. However, many experts believe that building seawalls around those areas would not effectively solve the situation. This underscores the urgent need for sustainable, long-term solutions, which can bring hope for a better, more resilient future.
We have seen the evil effects of deforestation and changes in land use. These have effectively reduced the environment's natural capacity to absorb rainfall and mitigate flooding. Forests, which act as natural barriers against floods and landslides, have been significantly depleted, increasing the risk of these hazards. Most natural waterways, like streams and creeks, are long gone, and houses and infrastructures have been built on top of them. Politicians just let such developments happen because the more people there are would result to more votes for them during elections.
Many areas in the Philippines still lack adequate infrastructure to cope with climate change's impacts. Poorly maintained drainage systems, insufficient flood control measures, and inadequate urban planning contribute to the severity of flooding and other climate-related issues. The irony is that the government spends tens of billions of pesos yearly to build infrastructures like bridges and roads, only to see some of them damaged during storms.
Despite adequate warnings from PAGASA, barges and boats were not adequately secured to prepare for the oncoming strong currents of some waterways, such as the Marikina River and the Manggahan floodway. I saw on TV those barges ramming into the foundations of the newly repaired F. Manalo Bridge in Pasig City. The structural soundness of the bridge is again being assessed, causing traffic to be rerouted, adding to the agonies of motorists in the area.
One significant contributor to this issue is improper garbage disposal. A day after the strong rains stopped, I drove around to check on the situation outside our place. Passing through the road under the Macapagal Bridge on Marcos Highway, I saw tons of garbage strewn all around. When will we ever learn the simple truth that garbage disposed of improperly often ends up in drainage systems, causing blockages?
Our government has implemented critical strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change. PAGASA has been doing its part to ensure that we are properly warned early of weather situations. But are they adequately tooled for them to do their job well in the future?
Our local government units play a vital role in mitigating the effects of climate change. Cleaning up all those waterways of obstructions would be critical. This would include demolishing structures illegally built on top of them. Ensuring proper disposal of trash, up to the smallest candy wrapper, should be a priority of barangay leaders. Teaching our kids the value of cleanliness and the discipline of proper disposal is upon our teachers to implement.
Flooding will alwaysremain a significant challenge in the Philippines, but by understanding its causes, implementing innovative mitigation strategies, the adequatedosage of political will on the part of our leaders, and ensuring the cooperation of everyone, the country can build more climate-resilient communities. ([email protected])
The author is an Executive Member of the National Innovation Council, Lead Convener of the Alliance for Technology Innovators for the Nation (ATIN), Vice President of the Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines, and Vice President of UP System Information Technology Foundation.