December 5, 2011

The Philippines on Antediluvian Crossroads!? - Episode Three

Inasmuch as the much vaunted Climate Change Academy of Albay is yet to impose its presence to the consciousness of the public outside the province of Albay, then the national government, thru the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), must enjoin other provincial governments to follow the lead of Albay. As this project is still in the infancy stage, whatever benefits it may accrue the communities under its sphere will take sometime to materialize. 

Thus, most of these LGUs will be on a wait and see mode until such time the Climate Change Academy of Albay will accomplish something beneficial and commendable worthy of emulation. However, considering the widespread destruction wrought by the series of typhoons that ravaged the Philippines in recent years, there should be preventive measures implemented immediately in disaster-prone areas to minimize the loss of lives and property thereat.

For instance, as per ABS-CBN news, typhoons "Pedring"(international name NESAT) and "Quiel"(international name NALGAE) reportedly caused more than nine billion Philippine pesos damage on infrastructure and agriculture in four provinces in Region 2 of Luzon, namely Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Pangasinan. These two typhoons also left 76 people dead, 74 injured and 29 missing. They also rivaled "Ondoy"(international name KETSANA) which damages wrought to affected areas were estimated to be P10.9 billions. 

President Aquino, in his visit to three provinces affected by the two typhoons, stated that long term solutions after completion by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) of studies of ways to mitigate the problem of extreme floods. He also said that dredging works on waterways would start soon.

City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, Chairman of Region 2 Development Council gave recommendations to President Aquino on how to prevent a repeat of the extreme floods. The recommendations included unifying dam management protocols among various government agencies, strengthening government's flood warning system, fast-tracking implementation of flood control projects in Central Luzon and building the Central Luzon link expressway.  

The aforementioned events transpired in October 2011 and two months had already elapsed but nothing could be heard about such long term solutions. Perhaps, the government is waiting for another destructive typhoon to strike anywhere in the country and the commitments made then will be remembered accordingly.  

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