EIGHT years ago, on June 27, 2013, I came out with the following column for Headline Gitnang Luzon, “Flood and food.”
“Helplessness and hopelessness among citizens are growing in geometric progression. No, that is not what official statistics say, it is what the hearts of people say. This may not be objective enough for the Philippine government to order full mobilization but let us look at two distinct and yet related concerns.
“First, the massive traffic gridlock in Metro Manila last June 17 caused by flash floods ignited for the nth time public debate on what to do with the country’s prime region. This is important because it is the country’s center of government and commerce.
“A post by Paulo Alcazaren on a popular website summarized the flooding problem of Metro Manila including its historical origins and some urban redevelopment solutions. Practically what he said was that the situation is hopeless because in the face of growing challenges from climate change the government and the people do not have what it will take to solve the problem at the moment or even in the foreseeable future.”
“Aside from the trillions that it will take to complete the needed anti-flooding structures, one thing that presents itself as one big stumbling block is politics. Alcazaren cited for example that because of the desired votes politics keep informal settlers where they are and remain part of the causes of flooding. He lamented that “politics has divided and conquered us… and it is also drowning us in yearly and constant floods.”
“Of course, we already knew long before that the solution is in the hands of a national leadership that can put money into the pipeline and persuade all concerned agencies and local government units to toe the line.
“Deputy presidential spokesperson undersecretary Abigail Valte said that some P10 Billion has been allotted to relocate some 104,000 families living near major waterways. But already militant youth groups rallied in front of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to protest against what they called the ‘all-out demolition’ of Metro Manila’s informal settlers. Kabataan Partylist representative Teddy Ridon said that the Aquino administration’s plan only aims to cover up the government’s long-standing neglect of flood control.
“According to Alcazaren “the overlapping jurisdictions is also exacerbated by another layer — that of the national government and yet a third layer, that of the MMDA. The ultimate fourth layer of discord is the fact that the source of floods is beyond the political jurisdiction of Metro Manila and in the hands of the provinces around it. Any sustainable solution to flooding must be at this regional context and the assumption that, within the metropolis, governance is rationalized to address this one big problem as one effort, not the effort of 17 government units, the MMDA, and national agencies.”
“I have the gut feeling that the relocation effort of President PNoy will encounter big resistance as the 2016 election approaches. This is just for Metro Manila and that situation is replicated in various degrees in other urbanized areas in the country.
“In another development, the United Nations has already warned that world grain reserves are so dangerously low that severe weather in the United States or other food-exporting countries could trigger a major hunger crisis next year with food consumption exceeding the amount grown for six of the past 11 years and prices of main food crops such as wheat and maize nearing close to those that sparked riots in 25 countries in 2008. The world’s leading environmentalists issued a warning that the global food supply system could collapse at any point, leaving hundreds of millions more people hungry, sparking widespread riots, and bringing down governments. In a shocking new assessment of the prospects of meeting food needs, Lester Brown, president of the Earth policy research center in Washington, said that the climate is no longer reliable and the demands for food are growing so fast that a breakdown is inevitable unless urgent action is taken.
“In the Philippines recent severe weather conditions already made the agriculture sector the biggest contributor to the unemployment count, an indicator that we are producing less food locally despite our growing population. That will increase our need for food imports and render us more vulnerable to the worsening world food situation.
“Between flood and food concerns alone, the country is facing a dangerous future that should alarm enough the government and the people to rally behind the flag like in a war. A similar call was already delivered by President PNoy last Independence Day. I have the gut feeling that most Filipinos who have TV or radio did not even bother to listen to the speech.
“By the way, our resilient countrymen in several flood-prone areas are building floating houses with vegetables planted in recycled plastic containers. Obviously, they already made up their mind.”
Have we made up our mind?
While listening to the last State of the Nation Address of President Duterte in the midst of the aftermath of recent flooding in the country and other parts of the globe, I was waiting for something that has been done regarding the perennial flooding problem in particular and climate change in general that affect the lives of the people. I got it before the end of the almost three hours of prepared speech and ad libs.
Nothing was mentioned about the flooding but there was the usual general call for the protection of the environment with the special mention, among other things, of the long ongoing Manila Bay rehabilitation as ordered by a Supreme Court ruling.
President Duterte referred to the shore rehabilitation without mentioning the controversial dolomite by name and explained it was not really a permanent solution as it needed refilling whenever it was washed out by waves.
When he thanked the private sector for the important help in addressing the pollution and other environmental concerns the big effort by the San Miguel Corporation in cleaning rivers and planting mangroves easily came to my mind without forgetting the environmental issues raised against its airport project in Bulacan.
Coming from a rice farming family, I find the free irrigation that was made possible by the present administration most appreciated. Add to this the various farm assistances that were provided through the rice tariffication law.
The pandemic has completely overshadowed other concerns, but nature has a way of reminding us that basic ecological matters are not to be forgotten no matter what hits us, from economic problems to calamities. People’s basic needs of food, shelter and mobility are linked to the environment. So does our health. So does politics.
When great floods hit us again, I have the gut feeling we will realize we have not made up our mind as usual.
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