As one of the most disaster-prone areas in Southeast Asia, the Philippines’ efforts in disaster risk reduction (DRR) did not go unnoticed. The country has recently caught the attention of the United Nations (UN) for having an advanced climate change adaptation (CCA).
Margareta Wahlstrom, UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, recently led a program in the province of Albay. The program, entitled Building a Resilient Mindanao—A Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange on Reducing Vulnerabilities and Adapting to Climate Change, gathers together top UN officials to discuss how to reduce the global warming effects.
Noting that other countries still lack action when it comes to reducing the impacts of global warming, Whalstrom was hopeful that neighboring countries would see Albay—a pioneer in DDR, as a model when it comes to best DRR practices.
On the other hand, local government units in Mindanao also plan to adapt Albay’s disaster management and climate change adaptation as well. By conducting peer-to-peer support in recently affected areas of the country like Iligan and Cagayan de Oro City, citizens are hopeful that disasters would be averted the next time it hits the country.
Although disasters like storms are typical in a tropical country like the Philippines, the people of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao were still caught unprepared when tropical storm Sendong (international name Washi) hit last year. The tropical storm claimed the lives of more than 600 people and has affected the lives of more than a thousand families according to the Philippine National Red Cross.
Amid missing dead bodies and devastated survivors, a typical blaming game followed between the national and local government over who should be held responsible for the lack of preparedness for Sendong. Aside from bickering politicians, environmentalists are blaming activites such as illegal logging as the main reason why the water rose so fast and houses were destroyed in an instant.
Sendong is now considered as one of the most fatal tropical storms to ever hit the country in the last 12 years. Filipinos, especially those in power, should not wait another 12 years to take action against global warming especially when history is telling us that no one is spared once Mother Nature decides to take on her revenge.
It is good to know that some local officials are taking the initiative to reduce the effects of global warming, but if we want other countries to follow and believe our example, Filipinos should first make sure that the whole country is practicing what is preached.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(NYNJ May 11-17, 2012 Sec A pg. 6)
