THE recent spate of flash floods in Cagayan De Oro highlights the need for engineering solution to be able to address its repetitive occurrence. At the same time, it also reveals that we are living in an environment that is already imbalanced.
Developmental initiatives are severely limited within political units’ jurisdiction. This undermines the fact that the environment is interconnected and whatever we do to our immediate environment has an adverse effect not only within the confines of the immediate environment but also as surrounding places as well. Such as the case of Cagayan De Oro.
Rapid development in nearby towns and cities alters and impacts the ecology which has unwanted and unforeseen environmental consequences which can be mostly felt in Cagayan De Oro. In this case, the occurrence of flash floods.
It is recommended that this city’s policy makers must also take into consideration developmental initiatives of surrounding cities, towns and municipalities to be able to formulate a effective contingency plan in times of disaster and much broader strategic developmental initiative that will include the communities beyond its territorial jurisdiction.
As our communities becoming smaller each passing day it cannot be helped but recognize the fact that we are all environmentally interconnected. What other communities do to their environment will have an impact on this city. (Justin Tanpua Honculada)