Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
La Niña, the opposite of El Niño, is a climatic phenomenon characterized by unusually cooler sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. While El Niño brings drought and heat, La Niña tends to trigger above-normal rainfall, potentially leading to flooding, landslides, and other weather-related hazards.
As the country braces for the impact of La Niña, early preparations are crucial to mitigate its effects on communities and infrastructure.
The current El Niño, deemed one of the five strongest on record that is causing drought in various regions of the country, is now at its tail end. After it, comes another climatic challenge. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has already warned of an “increasing probability” of La Niña developing in June-July-August 2024. And the Department of Agriculture has warned that La Niña would cause more massive damage to agriculture.
So, this shift from El Niño to La Niña requires swift action to prevent potential disasters. And the House of Representatives, recognizing the need for proactive measures, lost no time in starting preparations for the impending challenge by swiftly shifting its focus from El Niño to La Niña.
Yesterday, May 14, Speaker Martin Romualdez convened a high-level meeting to begin crafting a master plan on flood preparation and mitigation, specifically targeting Metro Manila and other flood-prone areas in the country. Present were key officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The House initiative aims to foster a unified strategy that goes beyond immediate flood response. It seeks to integrate infrastructure development, environmental management, and community-based approaches to create a comprehensive flood mitigation framework.
Zeroing in on these three key areas of concern is a welcome development as these are crucial in mitigating the impact of the looming climatic challenge.
In infrastructure development, it is necessary to ensure that existing infrastructure can withstand heavy rainfall and potential flooding. This includes maintaining drainage systems, upgrading flood control structures, and identifying vulnerable areas.
In environmental management, it is crucial to ensure the protection of natural ecosystems that play a role in flood prevention. Reforestation, watershed management, and soil conservation are essential to attain this.
In a community-based approach, engaging local communities in disaster risk reduction is vital. Educating residents about flood preparedness, evacuation plans, and early warning systems is crucial.
Other key areas of concern that need to be boosted are food security, sufficient water supply, energy availability, public health, public safety, mobility, and interconnectivity.
Ensuring that food supplies remain accessible during floods, maintaining water availability even during heavy rains, preventing disruptions to power supply, safeguarding communities from waterborne diseases and other health risks, and keeping transportation routes functional are crucial.
The crafting of this unified strategy ahead of the La Niña is anchored on the earlier directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.: “Do everything necessary to ensure that communities are safe from harm.”
We hail the step taken by the House of Representatives. Early preparations for La Niña are not just prudent; they are essential. By acting now, we can minimize the impact of heavy rains, protect lives, and build resilience in our communities. Let us heed the call to be prepared and work together to face this climatic challenge head-on.
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
