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[av_heading heading=’EDITORIAL | Wicked weather’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Monday, July 3, 2017
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ACCORDING to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) over the weekend, a low pressure area within the Philippine area of responsibility may develop into a tropical cyclone or tropical depression in the next 24 to 48 hours, bring rains over the eastern side of Luzon and Visayas, and enhance the prevailing southwest monsoon.
The mere geographical location of the Philippines makes it prone to typhoons – an average of 20 every year. Given this, how can the government effectively respond to fierce weather disturbances?
While Pagasa regularly updates the public with news regarding typhoons on national television, radio and internet, undoubtedly there is still a need to implement warning systems in the barangays.
Disaster is primarily an issue of vulnerability. Disasters exist when communities are vulnerable and poor. To make the communities less vulnerable, it is important to empower them.
Disaster response trainings could prepare the community on what to expect during a calamity, when is the right time to evacuate, and where to go. Aside from this, they must also be given practical tips on what to do during and after a calamity.
In a study titled “Climate Change and the Future Impacts of Storm-Surge Disasters in Developing Countries,” the World Bank said sea level is expected to rise by one meter this century. And as climate change creates warmer oceans, heightened storm surges would surely damage coastal zones and nearby low-lying areas, it said. Large storms and fierce monsoons can create more destruction as they move inland.
Now that we know this, there must be a shift on how we deal with extreme weather changes. From emergency disaster response, we should focus on proactive disaster risk mitigation.
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