THE response to global warming and climate change should be more than just planting trees. The heat index soaring up to 41 degrees Celsius in some areas calls for a better housing structure adjustment. There are several units in many subdivisions that do not have air vents. Residents have resorted to insulate their houses by installing insulation pads on their windows.
Harvard University professors David Keith and Frank Keutsch are embarking on ways to alter the climate to ease global warming. The experiment involves the spraying of certain particles such as sulfur dioxide and calcium carbonate into the stratosphere aimed to reflect more heat back into space.
Katherine Hayho, an atmospheric scientist and director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University is developing new ways to quantify the potential impacts of human activities. All these are being done to improve our situation and condition.
While we are sweating it out with the high temperatures, air quality continues to deteriorate. Some local government units are preoccupied with issues like healthcare, poverty and public education that they have reneged on air pollution. Aside from pollution emitted by public transportation and four-wheel private vehicles, there are 81 million motorcycles contributing to carbon monoxide emissions.
Our Department of Health is likewise busy on the ill-effects of smoking and its campaign against dengue, since rainy season is in the offing. However, it is silent on the pollution caused by open-fire cooking. Barbecued meals have become the favorite of Filipinos. How many barbecue stands are plying food products that are grilled on the side streets and major thoroughfares?
With all the infrastructure and residential development, our vegetation is narrowed down to farmlands. Our local government units have not even addressed our irrigation problems. While praying for the rainy season to come, irrigation projects were built sloppily. Some of these projects remained unfinished.
Are we prepared for the rainy season? Floods and landslides will once again challenge our barangays. Yes, our rescuers, who are our first responders, have equipped themselves but will it be enough to cover widespread devastation?
Our local government units have to start thinking of ways to improve air quality. An easy mandate by a simple endorsement from Inday Sara and President Rodrigo Duterte does not mean one can relax and be complacent. Public service must still be on top of one’s agenda.