16 PHL cities assessed for climate change vulnerability

Four more cities in the Philippines were assessed for climate change vulnerability by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and BPI Foundation, Inc. in 2014, bringing to 16 the number of cities in the country under the Business Risk Assessment and the Management of Climate Impacts study.

The study, launched in 2011, is conducted yearly. The cities assessed in the 2014 phase were Butuan City, General Santos City, Puerto Princesa, and Santiago City in the Cagayan Valley, though the study—published online—included assessments made in previous years.

The following cities were included in the study: Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Laoag, Zamboanga, Angeles, Batangas, Naga, Tacloban, Butuan, General Santos, Puerto Princesa, and Santiago.

In the 2012 phase of the study, Baguio was named the city most vulnerable to climate change.

To assess a city’s climate vulnerability, the study looked at a city’s climate exposure, socioeconomic sensitivities, and adaptive capacities. Below are the findings for the four cities added to the study last year.

Butuan

Butuan City is in a high-risk zone. According to the study, since the construction of housing units is faster than the growth of the city's population, it’s important to take steps to make sure that the construction follows “climate-smart” plans. While construction is ongoing, Butuan should take the opportunity to build in areas above flood-prone areas.

“Learning from Ormoc, Cagayan de Oro and Tacloban, flood zones should always be treated as no-build areas,” said the study.

The study also recommended that Butuan establish “all-weather corridors” that will link its seaport and its airport to the city proper and the national highways.

General Santos City

General Santos has the lowest average rainfall of the cities included in the study. Another problem is that the heat, combined with moisture and nutrients, can bring about red tide. These conditions also encourage the growth of other pathogens, bacteria, and mold.

The city’s seaports are also vulnerable to rising sea levels. Geo-hazard maps from DENR also indicate that some parts of the city are susceptible to floods. The attention given to preserving major land routes that connect General Santos to other cities should also be given to the seaports. “When access is marginalized, socio-economic activity is disrupted.”

Puerto Princesa

While historically storm impacts felt in Puerto Princesa are more from peripheral effects instead of direct hits, the water in the seas west of Palawan have been growing warmer, raising the possibility of cyclo-genesis. This is something that Puerto Princesa needs to keep an eye on.

The airport and seaport are right beside the sea, and several main highways are nearby as well. According to the study, these are vulnerable to storm surges, and the wind and rain that come with intense storms. Coral reefs and fisheries near Puerto Princesa are vulnerable to the effects of El Niño. And while current geo-hazards maps show low chances of flooding, heavier rainfall and rising sea levels could change that.

Santiago

Santiago is near the Cagayan River, which drains into the Babuyan Channel. As sea levels rise, the river may shift from a fresh water outlet to a seawater inlet. “Changes in salinity will, no doubt, impact the viability of rice and corn farms located along its banks. This will affect supply. It will also affect trade,” said the study.

The long-term viability of the North Luzon Expressway was called into question, since Luzon’s central expanse is a flood basin that will drain water into Manila Bay. “If Manila is to maintain its social and economic linkages with the north of Luzon, an alternative highway must be built, veering away from these known flood zones,” the study said.

Santiago will also need help to address the problems of mitigating floods and forestalling saltwater intrusion, rehabilitating forests to absorb rain and reducing run off, and reconfiguring roads in the region to allow all-weather movement of goods and services.

Preparing for the future

“No one knows where the next big typhoon will hit, so all cities should prepare ahead,” said WWF Philippines vice chairman and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan. “Sure, relocating roads and communities to high ground, constructing seawalls, coastal barriers and establishing evacuation safe-zones will cost millions. But will you really put a price tag on Filipino lives?”

One of the study’s recommendations is to make local infrastructure “climate-proof.” Examples include moving coastal communities and roads to higher ground, improving drainage systems, and investing in early warning systems

“Tacloban now has an excellent opportunity not just to rebuild—but to rebuild better,” said Florendo Maranan, BPI Foundation executive director and SVP. "Let not the lessons of Tacloban be lost as we strive to build more resilient communities that are more prepared for future disasters.” — BM, GMA News