Waterworld in the future?
Flood
and garbage are the main problems that besieged the main thoroughfares
of Metro Manila here in the Philippines since the untimely monsoon surge
on the first weekend of August 2012.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) explained that while the tropical storm Gener was pummeling the upper northern part of the country, the southwest air called "habagat" suddenly intensified the bad weather.
Residents near the catch basin areas of the metropolis were not alerted of the situation, resulting to hundreds of casualties due to landslide and massive flooding resulting to forced evacuation of affected families.
A week later, still, many family households are still waiting for assistance from people's organizations and non-government organizations and also from the government itself through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Metro Manila mayors and President Benigno "P-noy" Simeon C. Aquino held emergency meeting tackling the problem and how to combat it in the future.
With the assistance of the police and military officers and members, they were able to lend quick assistance to answer trivial problems and isolated cases for immediate response.
As President P-noy stressed out, he is calling the attention of all Filipinos, especially illegal settlers or squatters in the city to ask for help from government agencies (with the help of barangay officials and local government units) in looking for a more safe residential places than stay at danger zones or low-lying areas.
The president also alerted and ordered his cabinet members and government secretaries to launch flood programs immediately, since 'climate change' is very much apparent in the country.
As our country is always visited by typhoons annually, the priority of the government is the proper zoning of the affected places and launching of projects that will control and pacify such disastrous event every year.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) explained that while the tropical storm Gener was pummeling the upper northern part of the country, the southwest air called "habagat" suddenly intensified the bad weather.
Residents near the catch basin areas of the metropolis were not alerted of the situation, resulting to hundreds of casualties due to landslide and massive flooding resulting to forced evacuation of affected families.
A week later, still, many family households are still waiting for assistance from people's organizations and non-government organizations and also from the government itself through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Metro Manila mayors and President Benigno "P-noy" Simeon C. Aquino held emergency meeting tackling the problem and how to combat it in the future.
With the assistance of the police and military officers and members, they were able to lend quick assistance to answer trivial problems and isolated cases for immediate response.
As President P-noy stressed out, he is calling the attention of all Filipinos, especially illegal settlers or squatters in the city to ask for help from government agencies (with the help of barangay officials and local government units) in looking for a more safe residential places than stay at danger zones or low-lying areas.
The president also alerted and ordered his cabinet members and government secretaries to launch flood programs immediately, since 'climate change' is very much apparent in the country.
As our country is always visited by typhoons annually, the priority of the government is the proper zoning of the affected places and launching of projects that will control and pacify such disastrous event every year.
Flood and Garbage: More Fun in the Philippines?
It's
like a slap on both sides of every Filipino's face as we suffer from
our apathy and carelessness on the proper care of our environment.
Mother Nature is now giving back what most of us are doing for the past decades.
Have we done our assignment, yet regarding the maintenance of our surroundings.
Let us pause questions to ourselves, such as these:
The potential of tourism in our country is now smeared with flood and garbage as it leaves sediments of silts and dirty impression and hurtful memories in our minds.
As the time of social media comes to major propulsion, each of us can participate on the environmental campaign and government programs that can help such problems.
Let us trust the administration, change our negative outlook into positive disposition.
Remember: IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE WHO FREQUENTLY THROW GARBAGE ON THE STREETS, YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN.
Mother Nature is now giving back what most of us are doing for the past decades.
Have we done our assignment, yet regarding the maintenance of our surroundings.
Let us pause questions to ourselves, such as these:
- Did you learn how to segregate types of garbage at home? Or you don't care and you just throw it outside the house?
- Did you listen to the appeal of the local officials to properly clean the canals, so that plastic covers, Styrofoam, et cetera will not clog those waterways that can cause massive flooding?
- Are you still burning plastics that continue to deplete the ozone layer? Better change your attitude and be an advocate against climate change?
- Did you plant a tree or more trees in your whole life? Did you participate in a tree-planting activities that school organizations are promoting in order to help rebuild the Earth?
- Do you support an advocacy on environment that publicly campaign for proper waste disposal and management? Likewise for No Mining campaign, which contributed to massive flooding and landslide as well for the past years in the country.
The potential of tourism in our country is now smeared with flood and garbage as it leaves sediments of silts and dirty impression and hurtful memories in our minds.
As the time of social media comes to major propulsion, each of us can participate on the environmental campaign and government programs that can help such problems.
Let us trust the administration, change our negative outlook into positive disposition.
Remember: IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE WHO FREQUENTLY THROW GARBAGE ON THE STREETS, YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN.
(With personal opinion and writings from travel_man1971 aka Ireno A. Alcala, August 14, 2012)
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