Thursday, January 15, 2009 Oledan: Interface By Radzini Oledan
RESIDENTS that could be affected by the tail-end of a cold front with more rains and high seas in the next few days have been warned by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in Northern Mindanao.
More than 13,000 families or not less than 30,000 individuals have been displaced due to massive flooding that has engulfed low-lying areas.
Flashfloods hit Cagayan de Oro on January 3, the first in its history. Then on January 11, another flood inundated several barangays as rains continue to pour.
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J., D.D., has called on the Catholic community to show their faith by extending a helping hand to the victims of massive flooding. He stressed the need to go back to the root cause of the flooding.
He cited flash mining that has silted the Iponan River and the logging upstream not only in the interior of Cagayan de Oro but also in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur have led to the environmental disaster.
Devastations triggered by 'natural' disasters stem from ecologically destructive practices. More often than not, indications of environmental abuse are overlooked because 'development' projects appear to be economically viable for the community.
Excessive land use due to economic activities erodes natural buffers that protect communities from hazards. It also destroys watershed areas that provide cover and ensure that water flow is not destructive. These changes often erode people's capacity to recover from disaster.
Disasters are often viewed as an extreme event and responded to by an approach such as stockpiling of relief goods, preparedness plans and the growing role of relief agencies.
Many losses due to disasters could have been averted with good environmental management and a conscious investment in environmental protection.
Many high profile disasters in Mindanao are due to unsound environmental practices of companies and severe weakness in the regulatory aspect as well as nil investment in research and communication.
The buffer for any risk and sound disaster management is information that would enable people to take a more pro-active approach in preventing disasters. Communities have to learn how to identify the interface between disaster risk and critical environmental hazards, as well as enable them to manage the risks. Responses are still stuck on the immediate effect of the disaster. Thus, the provision for canned goods, sardines and noodles to affected families.
These approaches need to be capped with initiatives aimed at reducing social and economic vulnerability and investing in long-term mitigation activities. The resources for rescue and rebuilding communities affected by disaster could have been used in putting in place community based mechanisms for disaster reduction. The partnership between and among the stakeholders in the community, especially the residents, the corporations and business groups harnessing the natural resource in an area, provides an opportunity for risk reduction and efficient response.
The sound management of natural resources is a tool to prevent disasters or lessen their impacts on people, their homes and livelihoods. It is an investment for development.
