Gov't official: Climate change partly to blame for floods

Amid finger-pointing over the sudden rise in the number of flooding incidents, a government official on Wednesday said climate change can also be blamed for recent natural disasters. In an interview with News To-Go anchor Howie Severino, Climate Change Commission (CCC) Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering said the damage wrought by typhoons Pedring and Quiel demonstrated the effects of climate change in the Philippines.
Sering said climate change – or the “long-term shift in weather patterns"– can be caused by human economic activities, including logging and burning of fossil fuels. “We are seeing now the aftermath. Alam natin ‘yung effect niya [climate change]. Hindi natin ma-forecast ‘yung future... pero alam natin ‘yung damage na mangyayari after," she said. Possible futures While climate change has different impacts on different places, Sering said a tropical country like the Philippines could now see at least three specific changes:

• rise in sea level;
• extreme weather events; and
• warmer days and nights

The CCC also predicts that if people keep on contributing to pollution, the country will suffer from both extreme drought and excessive rains by year 2020. “[Sa rainy season], halos lahat pagdating sa Luzon at bandang Visayas madalas ang pag-ulan, [pero sa] Mindanao, mananatili ang tagtuyot," Sering said. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country has already recorded 17 typhoons at this time, which is six more than the 11 typhoons in 2010. To lessen bad emissions, Sering said they're advocating the use of renewable energy sources such as sun and wind. Manila Bay storm surge According to Sering, climate change played a role in the Manila Bay storm surge that caused flooding in some establishments along Roxas Boulevard, including the US Embassy and the Sofitel Plaza. Another factor, Sering said, is the over-extraction of ground water by using water pumps or “poso," which causes ground subsidence or lowering of land. Sering also cited the alteration of the Manila Bay seawall, which was lowered to allow people to sit on it. “’yung purpose niya na maging depensa ay parang nabawasan kasi bumaba ‘yung level ng sea wall," she said. In the case of usual flood spots, Sering admitted that the most practical solution is to abandon the place. “May mga area na kailangang paalisin ang mga tao, pero ‘yun ang pinakamahirap gawin – hindi lang ‘yung cost, pati mindset ng apektadong mga tao. Pero kung alam naman natin na maya’t maya na [binabaha], siguro dapat nilang maintindihan na kung wala naman kayong kakayanan para tugunan ito, siguro ang dapat mo nang gawin ay alisin ‘yung mga tao at siyempre maghanap ka rin ng areas kung saan maire-relocate nang maayos," she said. Sering added that relocation sites must have basic services and well-built infrastructure. Some places lack these, forcing relocated people to go back to their original settlements, she said. Joint efforts. Saying the recent typhoons as having “cross-sectoral" impact, the CCC secretary urged all sectors to work together instead of blaming one another over destructive floods. “Lahat ito nagdulot du’n sa problema, kaya hindi dapat tayo magturuan... dapat siguro umupo na kami para mag-usap usap. Lahat ‘yan sama-sama, kombinasyon ito," she said. “Itinutulak namin na kung anuman ‘yung tugon sa pagbabago ng klima, dapat makita na rin doon sa budget ng gobyerno," she said. But she said the CCC's budget has somehow improved, and that her team is investing on “vulnerability assessment," or the process of identifying current risks to come up with possible solutions. She added that the government is investing on early-warning system for the meantime to instill awareness among Filipinos, but eventually they would have to think of a long-term solution. Despite the growing threat posed by natural calamities, Sering remains optimistic that Filipinos can adapt to the changing environment. “Samahan natin ng dasal siyempre... Ngayon, parang ipinapakita rin sa atin ng diyos na ito na ang posibleng mangyari – dadalas pa at titindi pa – kaya this is the time to act," she said. — with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/LBG, GMA News