Cause for alarm

By JULLIE Y. DAZA of www.mb.com.ph

Killer earthquakes. Catastrophic tsunamis. Volcanic eruptions. Deadly deluges. Eerie erosions. Snow storms. Melting ice caps. Drought – El Nino, now.

Which candidate up for election has prepared a contingency plan for climate change? Loren Legarda, vice presidential candidate, seems the most ready to answer questions. Gibo Teodoro, presidential candidate, foresees a R208-billion plan to drain Metro Manila of flood waters when the next Ondoy or its Jr. hits. (Remember, he was the only government official who was at his desk, in the field, flying a chopper, riding in a truck and not sleeping for three days to oversee government relief and rescue operations as Ondoy and Pepeng turned the big city and Luzon into a stinky lake. In short, his vision of a flood-free metropolis is based on eyewitness accounts and experience – his own.)

Pity that Jun Palafox, architect and urban planner, does not have the ear of a candidate, because he’s in a state of near-panic as he sounds the alarm: Take immediate action, now! The world is turning and there is no time to lose as climate change sweeps the planet. Making do with what is do-able is the order of the day – carpe diem! – so he suggests with a note of urgency:

“1. Create awareness. [Ignorance is not bliss, it is dangerous.] 2. Publish hazard maps [instead of survey results and more survey results]. 3. Conduct geologic, hydraulogic, structural audit of buildings and infrastructures [even if the ugly truth be known], particularly if those projects were tainted with corruption in the award, construction, and obtaining of permits.”

Weathermen have forecast 19 typhoons hitting the Philippines this year. Weathermen have already told us to expect another blue moon on Jan. 30. But weathermen cannot predict when an earthquake will occur. However, we can predict that someone will deliver a nice little speech after the next disaster shakes, rattles, and ruins us to say that everything is being done to assuage the situation,
minimize the damage, and help the victims while condoling with their families. And then we’ll be able to predict that no one will believe him or her.

SOURCE

=================================
I hope the candidates would prioritized plans for climate change.  Of course, our awareness (and avoidance) regarding the activities that may contribute in Global Warming is a great factor in taking care of Mother Earth.

I am not sure where exactly in Metro Manila but I think there are now bicycle lanes in some parts of the Metro.  This is not only a campaign for environmental care, but also [of course] for our health.  I hope there would be more bicycle lanes in Metro Manila [most especially] as well as in provinces where cars and motorbikes dominate the road.

Gosh!  A forecast of 19 typhoons hitting the Philippines this year?! =(