Non-stop rains caused flooding in many areas around the country. I was in Baguio last Sunday and it was raining the whole day. It’s good that we don’t have floods here in Mabalacat City, owing to its high elevation. According to the google earth apps, downtown Mabalacat is 103m above sea level. The old city hall of Angeles City is at 91m and downtown area of the City of San Fernando is just 3m above sea level. Sasmuan, Macabebe and Masantol are only 1m above sealevel.
We all know the effects of flooding - loss of lives, damage to crops, damage to properties and public infrastructure and disrupted academic activities. But floods also have a negative effect on the environment. This is not given much attention understandably because the focus is on saving lives and properties.
Floods lessen agricultural productivity in addition to the immediate damage to crops. Soil erosion and degradation and the loss of nutrient-rich topsoil reduce land fertility. Saturation can lead to compaction and loss of soil structure, making future plant growth difficult. In some areas, floodwaters deposit sediments that can smother plants and change soil chemistry.
Floods often carry oil, pesticides, heavy metals, and other hazardous materials into rivers, lakes, and groundwater resulting in pollution. Flooding can overwhelm sewage systems, leading to the release of untreated waste into natural water bodies. Nutrient runoff can lead to eutrophication, which causes harmful algal blooms and oxygen depletion in water.
Floods can destroy nests, dens, and feeding grounds for many terrestrial and aquatic species. Sudden flooding can displace or kill animals, especially those with limited mobility or specific habitat needs. I saw a heartbreaking video in Facebook of a farmer crying over his dead carabao, his farming-companion.
Floodwaters can transport seeds and organisms to new areas, potentially disrupting local ecosystems. This contributes to the proliferation of invasive species. Stagnant floodwaters can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and bacteria, increasing the risk of diseases like cholera, leptospirosis, and malaria. Prolonged flooding can suffocate plant roots by cutting off oxygen. In coastal areas, flooding can introduce saltwater to freshwater or agricultural ecosystems, harming plants.
What usually comes after a flood is assessment of the various flood prevention programs of government. There is no environmental impact assessment. It’s now time to give importance to this.
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In PBBM’s SONA, I was waiting for policies or programs on the environment, but none was mentioned. I was hoping that he would push for the creation of the Department of Water Resources which was mentioned in the past SONA. I checked the website of Congress and found that as early as June 30, several bills have been refiled to create this agency. Hope it will pursued this time.