Binabati po natin lahat ng mga naging bahagi ng ating isang linggong selebrasyon para sa Earth Day. Mula sa ating exhibit, forum, muzikalikasan, mga aksiyon sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa, at ngayon sa ginagawa nating kapit-bisig sa Quezon Memorial Circle – maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang lahat ng nagmamahal sa kalikasan.

Ayon sa Department of Tourism, #itsmorefuninthephilippines. Tama. Pero ang dagdag natin, it’s more fun in the Philippines if it’s clean and green. Hindi po ba’t mas masaya kung sariwa ang hangin? Mas masaya kung malinis ang tubig; mas masaya kung malawak ang kagubatan.

Ang henerasyon natin di na naabutang malinis ang Manila Bay. Lumaki tayong madumi na ang Pasig River. Umiinom tayo sa bottled water dahil wala tayong tiwala sa kalinisan ng tubig gripo sa Metro Manila. Kaya kailangan ng aksiyon. Kailangang kumilos para ipagtanggol ang kalikasan. Gusto nating ipagmana sa susunod na henerasyon ang isang malinis na kapaligiran.

Baka sa halip na mga puno, ang maabutan ng susunod na henerasyon ay mga shopping mall at parking lot. Sa halip na white sand beaches, mga maduduming isla. Sa halip na malinis na dagat, puno ng basura at polusyon.

Tayo ay handang kumilos. Tayo ay hindi naman nagkukulang sa mga batas, programa, at inisyatiba para sa pagtatanggol ng kalikasan. May Earth Hour at Earth Day. Popular ang mungkahing reduce, reuse, recycle. Laging may paalalang huwag magtapon ng maliliit na basura sa kalye. Gumamit ng reusable bags kapag namimili. Magpalit ng lightbulbs. Huwag sanaying gumamit ng plastic at styrofoam. Dahil tayo’y responsableng mamamayan, at dahil mahal natin ang kalikasan, tiwala akong gagawin natin ang mga nabanggit kong mga inisyatiba. Bawat isa, bata o matanda, may ambag, may magagawa para sa kalikasan. May pag-asa habang tuluy-tuloy ang edukasyon at pagbibigay impormasyon sa publiko.

Pero ang isa pang mensahe ng Earth Day ay nakatuon sa pamahalaan. Malaki ang magagawa ng pamahalaan para mapigilan ang mabilis na pagkasira ng kalikasan. Panahon na upang ibasura ang mga batas tulad ng Mining Act of 1995. Dapat ikansela ang mining and logging permits. Dapat irebyu ang mga batas para sa proteksiyon kuno ng kalikasan. Epektibo pa ba ang mga ito? Paano ito pinapatupad? O baka nagagamit para sa higit na pagkasira at pagdumi ng kalikasan. Bakit pinagpapatuloy ng administrasyong Aquino ang mga pulisiya ng nagdaang rehimen tulad ng agresibong pagtutulak sa mining, pagtatayo ng coal plants, at pribatisasyon ng ating yamang likas? Daang matuwid o daang madumi?

Hindi kikilos nang kusa ang ating mga lider. Kadalasan ang sinusunod nila ay pera; ang pinapakinggan nila ay mga dambuhalang korporasyon. Kaya napakahalaga na tayo ay magsalita, magkaisa, at kumilos. Dapat itulak ng mamamayan ang ating mga lider na magpatupad lamang ng mga programang magtitiyak sa kalinisan ng paligid.

Inspirasyon ang pagkilos ng mamamayan ng Baguio City. Pagkatapos magprotesta ang mahigit 4,000 katao sa Session Road, napigil ang plano ng SM na magputol ng 182 pine trees. Kagagaling ko lang po sa isla ng Romblon at kinuwento sa akin ng ating mga kababayan dun ang pagkilos ng mahigit 10,000 tao nung isang taon kaya’t napigilan nila ang pagpasok ng isang mining corporation sa kanilang probinsiya. Saludo tayo sa maraming komunidad sa bansa na tumitindig laban sa mga proyektong sumisira sa kalikasan. Nakakalungkot at kadalasan ang tugon ng pamahalaan ay karahasan.

Ngayong Earth Day, patunayan natin na ang pinakamainam pa ring solusyon sa pagtatanggol ng kalikasan ay ang pagkilos, sama-samang pagkilos ng mamamayan. Ang lakas ng bayan ay ating gamitin para sagipin ang daigdig.

Sa ilang saglit ay matatapos ang ating programa pero sa pagbalik natin sa ating mga komunidad ay tuluy-tuloy ang ating mga gawain para sa higit na pagkakaisa ng mamamayan para sa pagtatangol ng kalikasan.

Nanggaling tayo sa iba-ibang grupo, iba-iba ang ating mga hilig o interes, libu-libo ang ating mga kaibigan, kabilang tayo sa maraming social networks, pero iisa lamang ang ating daigidig. Pinagbubuklod tayo ng hangaring mailigtas ang ating kapaligiran. Para sa bayan, para sa kalikasan, para sa mas malinis na kinabukasan.

Through the initiative of Baguio City Councilors Karminn Yangot (Sangguniang Kabataan) and Isabelo Cosalan, I was allowed to speak before the regular session of the city council this afternoon. I was asked to give an update on the efforts of Kabataan Partylist and other concerned groups and residents of Baguio to stop the plan of SM to earth-ball 182 pine trees on its lot.

After acknowledging the gesture of the council to suspend its rules so that a House member can address the body, I immediately discussed the parliamentary status of House Resolution 2069 filed last January to probe the controversial decision of the DENR, DPWH and local government to grant a tree-cutting permit to SM. I told the council that the resolution was already referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and the committee chairman had given his commitment to conduct a public hearing in Baguio when Congress resumes sessions next month.

I also shared the results of our dialogue with the DENR – Forest Management Bureau last week. I relayed the position of the DENR that it gave a permit to SM because of the endorsement given by Baguio local authorities.

After my speech, Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas clarified that the council has not yet issued a final decision on the matter and that it was only Barangay Session Road which endorsed the application of SM. Then he asked us to also look into the cutting of trees along the national highway. Another member of the council also encouraged us to probe the loss of trees in the city watershed and other areas of Baguio.

Councilor Lourdes Tabanda suggested an amendment in the law to specify which local government unit should give the necessary permit to applications for Environment Compliance Certificates. Should it be the barangay, the mayor’s office, or the city council?

Council members agreed that the DENR failed to conduct a public consultation prior to the issuance of permit to SM. For its part, the council organized a public hearing this year but only after Baguio residents mounted strong objections to the mall expansion and tree-cutting plan of SM. A councilor cited a certain Public Perception Survey done by SM involving 38 respondents. (Would we accept this as legitimate consultation?)

One of the recommendations of the committee which conducted the hearing was to form a Multipartite Monitoring Committee to check if SM will comply with its pledge to implement several environmental projects.

Local journalists and residents are confused since the council had earlier approved a committee report which favored the position of SM. In fact, the recommendation to create a monitoring committee was an indirect endorsement of the SM expansion project.

It’s quite surprising that the council has failed to make a final decision on the issue despite the popular resistance of Baguio residents. Their constituents have already spoken and the council must break its silence soon. Or is the silence and indecisiveness a deliberate act in support of SM?

It seems the council is hesitant to use its persuasive powers to stop SM or to influence the decision of DENR and Malacanang. It’s unfortunate since local governments are not powerless if they really wanted to block infrastructure projects. In nearby La Trinidad, the mayor ordered Benguet State University to stop cutting of 50,000 trees for its housing project.

It’s unusual that DENR simply accepted the permit given by the barangay without consulting other local officials. Would they expect us to believe that the mayor and the city council expressed little or no interest in a major project involving a prime location in the city’s central business district? That barangay must be too powerful since it negotiated directly with SM and DENR without consulting the mayor and the city council.

National government agencies led by the DILG and DENR convened a meeting today of all concerned stakeholders to forge a win-win solution. But I think a compromise is unthinkable at the moment. It’s either we allow SM to cut the trees or cancel the permit it received from the government. Another is that DENR will conduct an ocular inspection this week. But it’s something which should have been done before DENR decided to grant SM a tree-cutting permit.

I salute Baguio residents for their steadfast opposition to the mall expansion of SM. Their brave actions have inspired many communities in Luzon and other parts of the country to actively oppose so-called development projects which also threaten the environment. Their laudable dedication to protect the trees and Baguio’s green profile makes the celebration of Earth Day more meaningful.

We are told not to focus our attention on SM and Baguio since there are other more pressing environmental concerns. I agree. But it doesn’t invalidate the issues we raised against the tree-cutting in SM. As Baguio residents, they have every right to speak against policies and programs that endanger the future of the city. Besides, our aggressive position on this particular issue doesn’t mean we are less concerned about the other environmental threats in our city, province, and region.

Let’s continue to expose the greenwashing efforts of SM and its well-entrenched apologists. Continue to engage your local officials until they make a categorical stand on the issue. Together, we will continue to remind DENR and Malacanang about their crucial role in reversing the permit granted to SM. The campaign to save the SM Baguio pine trees is not just an environment issue; it’s also part of the crusade for good governance.

No to SM expansion! Cut the Greed, not the Trees!

April 16, 2012
Baguio City

According to a government think-tank, 34.6 percent of households experienced job and asset losses during typhoons in 2011. Almost 70 percent suffered a reduction in income while 45 percent complained of rising expenses immediately after the onslaught of a typhoon.

Floods mean a reduction of income amounting to P1,150 on the average per household. Meanwhile, the average loss in assets is worth P2,042 per family. Floods also inflate the expenses of households by P3,305.

Poverty worsens the suffering of families affected by natural disasters. How did the poor cope during calamities in 2011? Almost half shifted to cheaper food items while a third of them reduced the portion of food they are consuming. A quarter of the population was forced to limit the use of electricity and bought ready-to-cook food to survive.

The same survey (which was presented in a Congress committee hearing) revealed that 20.5 percent of household spent less for recreation during flooding and typhoon disasters.

The government shouldn’t only intensify its relief efforts during disasters; it should also devise intervention programs to cushion the negative impact of disasters on poor and vulnerable groups. Since food-related coping strategies are the most common reactions of the poor during disasters, the government should be more innovative and aggressive in delivering basic food supplies in affected towns and provinces.

At the global level, climate change wreaks more havoc on poor societies which seem to be cursed by bad governance and high income disparity. At the grassroots level, extreme weather events are causing the deterioration of the conditions of the poor.

Indeed, nature doesn’t discriminate but the world of man is an imperfect environment dominated by inequality, oppression, and injustice. Nature surprises us with weather disturbances but the real disaster is the grand failure of mankind to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty in almost all corners of the world.

Where’s the disaster preparedness plan?

The article below was first published by The Diplomat

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Negros and Cebu provinces in central Philippines on Monday afternoon, killing dozens of people on the two major islands of the Visayas region. Strong aftershocks plus a false tsunami alert caused panic in several coastal towns. The casualties are bound to rise in quake-damaged villages as rescuers continue to search for survivors.

The earthquake is the latest disaster to hit the Philippines in the past two months. Last December, heavy rainfall caused flashfloods in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in north Mindanao, killing more than a thousand people and destroying the homes of an estimated 100,000 families. Barely a month after this tragedy, a landslide buried more than 30 people in a small mining community in Pantukan, Compostela Valley in southern Mindanao. Several provinces including Cebu, Davao, Bukidnon, Maguindanao, Negros, Leyte and Aklan have also suffered from floods since January.

What makes this wave of flood disasters more worrisome, aside from the human casualties, is the fact that there was no major recent tropical cyclone to hit the country to trigger the floods and mudslides. Residents living near river banks are already thinking of relocating because if normal rains alone can cause such destructive floods, the impact of strong typhoons could well be much worse.

The Philippines is actually one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Situated inside the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippine archipelago is battered by at least 25 major storms every year. And because of climate change, it also suffers from extreme weather disturbances. Next month, several parts of the country are expected to experience an extended period of drought due to the El Nino phenomenon.

But to pin the blame on climate change for the casualties is wrong since many of the weather-related deaths are preventable. It must be emphasized that the negative effects of climate change are compounded by poverty, bad governance, and destructive economic activities.

The government’s inefficiency during crisis situations was exposed when it failed to mobilize its resources on time and coordinate the efforts of all agencies during the recent flooding and earthquake disasters. The public has the right to demand the formulation of a comprehensive disaster risk reduction program that can save lives and minimize casualties during freak weather events. Indeed, politicians were able to gather and distribute relief goods to survivors, but scientists and environmentalists insist that the government should have prioritized the setting up of an effective early warning system, emergency drills, quick response teams, and the construction of adequate infrastructure in calamity-prone areas as part of its disaster preparedness program. The geo-hazard map that the government has already completed would be rendered useless if there’s no concrete national disaster management plan.

The present government also has to explain why it re-issued logging and mining permits in landslide-prone provinces. At a minimum, it should review all large-scale mining activities and determine their impact on the country’s fragile island ecosystem. It should also reconsider the petition of multinational companies to expand their fruit plantations in the uplands of Mindanao Island.

The “inconvenient truths” of climate change have already been thoroughly discussed by academics, the media and even government institutions. Everybody knows that strong typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions are common in this part of the world. The Philippines is a country that should excel in disaster preparedness, but unfortunately its climate change adaptation program is a major disaster.

The number of casualties continues to rise and the economic toll is huge. Foreign aid is arriving but these charity funds will only last a few weeks. The national government will have to shoulder most of the expenses in rehabilitating the damaged local infrastructures.

Strong typhoons and other natural calamities will continue to wreak havoc in the country. Situated inside the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is constantly plagued by typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It is not financially feasible for the government to spend hundreds of millions of dollars every time a disaster hits the country. Instead, the government should focus its efforts in aiming to minimize the disastrous effect of natural calamities. The long term goal should be to reduce the number of lost lives and properties in disaster-prone areas.

The recent storm tragedies provided us with concrete lessons on how to effectively survive the next great disaster.

First, good governance is the key to mitigate the brutal impact of natural calamities. All government agencies should develop programs to deal with environmental disasters. Both national and local governments should have emergency teams that can be dispatched during crisis situations.

Disaster preparedness should be a top priority of all public and private institutions. At the height of Typhoon Ketsana’s onslaught, many were shocked to discover that the government has only a limited number of rubber boats that can be used to rescue stranded residents in flooded villages. The available tents for the temporary shelter of evacuees are grossly inadequate too.

There is also a shortage of skilled personnel who can help the government in the reconstruction efforts. The country lacks competent scientists and engineers who can advise authorities during natural disasters. The government should invest in developing the needed human capital to help the country adapt to the changing state of the global environment.

While the ferocity of Typhoons Ketsana and Parma was unexpected, the possibility that such strong typhoons can occur and hit the country has long been predicted by scientists. The government is aware of the vulnerabilities of the Philippines to the harmful impact of climate change. In fact, President Gloria Arroyo even appointed herself as climate change czar early this year to personally oversee the implementation of green programs in the country.

Now is the right time to assess the environmental programs and policies of the government. Obviously, they are inadequate and ineffective. The Early Warning System didn’t work as thousands were still trapped during the flooding disaster. Hundred were buried in mudslides. Dams released water without giving enough time for villagers to evacuate to higher grounds.

The Philippines has been a recipient of numerous environmental aid programs in the past. How was the money spent? Why didn’t the government upgrade its weather facilities?

It is curious that the cities which suffered the most in the recent typhoon disasters were among the most competitive cities in the country. Marikina was recognized by the Philippine Cities Competitive Ranking Project as the Most Competitive Metro City in 2005. Marikina was hailed for its excellent infrastructure and responsive local government unit. Dagupan was the winner in the small cities category. Both Marikina and Dagupan were heavily damaged by the recent floods. This proves that a city with a dynamic local economy can also suffer during natural disasters especially if its neighboring cities are not competitive. Lesson: there should be a comprehensive development of cities and provinces in the country.

There are also positive stories to remember in the recent storm tragedies. One of which is the intelligent use of the internet by Filipino netizens to help flood victims. An interactive map was established showing the extent of destruction caused by the twin typhoons. New media sites like Twitter and Facebook were maximized to direct rescuers and charity groups to locations where relief and emergency assistance are most needed. By uploading pictures and videos of the flooding in Metro Manila, Filipino bloggers helped in convincing the international community about the need to give immediate aid to the Philippines.

Stories of heroism also abound like neighbors giving shelter to homeless families, strangers rescuing trapped individuals in flooded homes, students donating their school allowances to relief groups, and young people volunteering in community centers and soup kitchens. To use a term popularized by a government agency, the charity-virus is spreading in the country. Volunteerism is back.

Through Typhoons Ketsana and Pepeng, many Filipinos were educated about climate change. In the past, climate change is viewed by many as an abstract subject, an academic term. Today, climate change is feared because of the heavy rainfall, flooding, mudslides, landslides, and other extreme weather disturbances which hit the country. It is now easier to persuade residents about the importance of protecting the fragile environment. Even authorities are beginning to understand the political and social cost of tolerating activities which pollute the environment.

It will take a long time to revive the shattered local economy. Many lives were destroyed and those who survive have to cope with rising food prices, inadequate housing facilities, and damaged public utilities. There is much suffering in the country, especially in the rural areas of north Philippines. The government should tap the renewed sense of volunteerism and hope among many Filipinos to bring back the country on the road to progress.

Related articles:

Competitive cities
Coping with climate change

Ketsana was not the first great typhoon of the year in the Asia-Pacific region. Early this year, a series of flooding disasters struck Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. A minor flooding calamity also hit Brunei. But the flooding disasters did not force the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other countries in the Asia-Pacific to meet as one body to coordinate relief and rescue efforts.

So how strong was Typhoon Ketsana? It dumped more rain than Hurricane Katrina. In about six hours it unleashed a whole month’s worth of rain in the Philippines, which triggered the worst flooding in Metro Manila in 40 years. It claimed almost 300 lives. More than 10,000 houses, including 260 schools, were damaged.

Half a million people are now living in overcrowded evacuation centers. More than 200 schools have been converted into refugee centers, which could affect the schooling of many children. As of Oct. 2, typhoon Ketsana had affected 3 million people in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

After wreaking havoc in the Philippines, Ketsana unleashed its fury in Indochina. It forced the evacuation of 350,000 people in central Vietnam and destroyed more than 300,000 homes, schools and other vital infrastructure in the country. It killed at least 92 people, left 19 missing, and injured 199 according to a government report. Ketsana also destroyed millions of dollars worth of agricultural crops in six provinces, which will affect the country’s food security.

Residents described Ketsana as the most serious and ferocious typhoon to hit Vietnam in the last five years. They also compared the floods caused by it to the deadly 1964 floods.

Ketsana also battered Cambodia and Laos. The casualties in these countries are lower compared to the Philippines and Vietnam but they also experienced unprecedented flooding.

An expat in Cambodia said that it was the first time floods have been so bad in Siem Reap. Another expat wrote that the level of water in the moat surrounding Angkor Wat had reached its peak. A civil society group reported that in one province alone, almost 15,000 homes were flooded.

Ketsana also damaged the southern part of Laos and caused widespread flooding in Xekong and Attapeu provinces. Authorities are also worried that 50 hectares of agricultural land is flooded.

Last August, Typhoon Morakot became the worst calamity to hit Taiwan in the past 200 years. Again, Asia-Pacific nations failed to call an emergency caucus to discuss collective efforts on ways to minimize the negative economic, social and environmental impact of natural disasters in the future.

Today there is a need for ASEAN unity and cooperation to help rebuild the flooded communities in four Southeast Asian countries. The least ASEAN should do is to share resources and volunteers to aid flood victims. ASEAN should lead the international campaign in seeking more economic relief for the calamity-stricken areas in the region.

ASEAN should have a regional disaster-preparedness program. It should identify the environmental high-risk areas in the region and establish a common fund to modernize the weather monitoring facilities of member countries.

It should implement an innovative system to quickly respond to natural calamities. It should have green soldiers, medical teams and volunteers who can be swiftly deployed to any part of the region that needs assistance.

If Typhoon Ketsana were a terrorist group, ASEAN members would have met by now to denounce it and plan measures to prevent another terrorist group from destroying more lives and properties in the future. ASEAN governments should refocus their priorities. Climate change and not terrorism is the number one threat to stability in the region.

There would be many advantages if ASEAN’s efforts in combating the negative effects of climate change were synergized. This would facilitate a productive exchange of new ideas, efficient programs and modern approaches in dealing with climate change. It could foster economic progress based on the principle of environmental sustainability and generate a sense of solidarity among the people in the region. It would also guarantee immediate relief to disaster-hit countries.

This year, as in past years, ASEAN has failed to demonstrate unity although its member countries were ravaged by various natural calamities. Can Typhoon Ketsana finally force a change in attitude among ASEAN leaders?

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