Was Typhoon “Ondoy” a once-in-every-50-years event? Considering the vast changes brought about by global warming worldwide, not likely. At this stage, the excessive rainfall and resulting floods may no longer be a freak of nature but a regular occurrence. Weather and climactic upheavals are evident. It may be our harvest from the centuries of disrespect we have inflicted on nature, just as the experts had predicted. And it is our lot to deal with the challenge now.
Our worst enemy is complacency, second is despair. The damage we have wrought is not irreparable. There are some things we can do. In fact there are so many things we must do!
Rethink our master planning standards.
We must review our building and planning codes, gearing these toward how development can halt and reverse the effects of global warming. According to architect and green advocate Joven Ignacio, “Since the 1990’s people have been discussing the need for sustainability to avert the negative impact on our environment and social structures. We know that balance is the key. All cities must minimize their ecological impact. Nature and built form are considered balanced where buildings and infrastructure are safe and resource efficient”.
Built form, whether in the form of building structures, roadways, or pavements, makes rainwater travel more quickly to low lying areas. On the other hand, landscapes and open spaces slow down the process. In some areas like Singapore and Hong Kong, implementation of a ‘green roof’ is now mandatory. This building concept aims to reduce the effect of global warming and improve air quality, particularly in the metropolis.
Clear our waterways; provide proper housing to the marginalized.
We know that the first victims of calamities are the poorer sectors of society. These are the people who squat on every piece of available land no matter what the risks. Their settlements are unplanned, congested, without any proper drainage and garbage disposal system. Having known this reality for a long time, it is shameful that we still have not addressed the problem correctly. We have only given cosmetic and stop-gap solutions so far. We must remember that everyone shares the same waterways, the same roads, and the same drainage system, in the same city home.
The common notion is that the squatter colonies flourish because these are strong voter seedbeds for politicians. Therefore, it is only right for the people they voted in to genuinely care for them and provide them with proper housing and public works.
Initiate and participate in reforestation programs.
Entire villages were buried by mudslides due to deforestation. With the absence of trees along the mountainsides, no roots and vegetation could anchor the soil firmly to the ground, leading to erosion. Flowing mud and rocks kill everything in its path, silting up and narrowing our rivers, and causing these to overflow and flood the environs. When we plant and cultivate trees and other plants, we make our own definite stand against destruction and tragedy.
Maintain waterways regularly.
We are masters at building but lack the ability to maintain and preserve. Not all the flooding in the city happened only in low-lying areas. If our waterways had been regularly maintained, the deluge would have easily receded by storm’s end.
Respect laws and ordinances.
Respect codes and zoning ordinances. City governments have mandated maximum building height limits, maximum number of floors, as well as building setback spaces, not just for aesthetics, but to allow for greens and breathing space. These laws are set in place to maintain balance. There are likewise guidelines that city planners must use to design roadways, drainage systems, and other utilities. These are all good on paper, but these must be carried out in fact to be effective. In addition, the existing laws and penalties for illegal dumping of garbage, particularly in waterways, must be strictly enforced.
Respect your open spaces.
We must preserve and maintain the open spaces within our communities, be they parks or gardens. Some village residents have difficulty seeing the value of greenery and landscapes in common areas, considering them only as additional maintenance costs and unwanted trysting places for lovers or shady characters. However, we must perceive the bigger picture, that of the need for natural regeneration and breathing space.
As homeowners and individuals, what else can we do?
Clean your immediate surroundings. Ensure that the garbage from our homes is minimized, correctly segregated, and properly disposed. Our homes must be routinely checked for clogged drainage and waterlogged corners.
There is no better time to start repairing the damage to nature than now. In truth, there is no other time to do it but now.
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