THE coastal town of Masantol, located at the southernmost part of Pampanga is known as the catch basin of floodwater during rainy season.
Unlike the earlier years when flood is only experienced during rainy season, most of barangays in Masantol town are now experiencing up to two feet of flood even during dry season when the level of tide is high.
This is among the reason why the Climate Change Commission (CCC) jumpstarted the climate adaptation study in the town, stressing the importance of a science-based approach and strong community engagement in order to help better understand and effectively address climate change-related and flooding concerns of the town.
The said study was particularly launched in Barangay Sapang Kawayan here, which is the nearest island barangay to the mouth of Manila Bay where waters of Pampanga River exits.
CCC Cchair-designate and Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, CCC Vice Chairperson Secretary Robert E.A. Borje, outgoing Mayor Danilo Guintu and incoming Representative Anna York Bondoc, along with other experts, made a recent visit in Barangay Sapang Kawayan to personally check on the situation and come up with a comprehensive, multidimensional and science-based approach to climate change adaptation in Masantol.
To boost its climate change awareness program, the agency launched a series of video that features the various effects of climate change in the community.
The three-part video entitled “Masantol: Ang Kwento Laban sa Nagbabagong Klima” which aims to communicate the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities in the Philippines — specifically the town of Masantol, Pampanga — to bring awareness and new perspectives to the climate change discourse as well as motivate the Filipino people to spring into action.
The first part specifically focuses on the causes and effects of flooding problem in Masantol, while second part presents the interventions that have been done and last part focuses on the recommendations of the CCC and National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE).
It also seeks to highlight the need for local adaptation planning aligned with the National Climate Change Action Plan. This connotes the commitment of the CCC to assist local government units in their pursuit of science and evidence-based, low emission and sustainable local development planning.
During the visit in Barangay Sapang Kawayan, Masantol Mayor Danilo Guintu recognized the importance of an effective partnership between Masantol and CCC in order to come up with sustainable solutions to the town’s perennial flooding problem. Mayor Guintu stated that the Local Government Unit will fully support CCC’s study.
Incoming fourth district Representative Anna York Bondoc, who attended the video launch, expressed gratitude to CCC and DOF for kick-starting a study that puts focus on the situation of the people of Masantol town and the community.
“Itong trabaho niyo po na ito at iyong gagawin niyo pa will definitely bring international attention, local attention and the much needed attention to the problem dito sa bayan namin. This is actually a problem of the whole of Central Luzon dahil sabi ko nga, para kaming embudo na kapag bumuhos ang tubig mula sa taas, hindi rin agad makakalabas kung barado sa ibaba,” she explained.
The climate adaptation study is expected to continue in the coming months until the NPTE comes up with a recommendations that will solve the perennial flooding problem.