Philippines and Climate Change
Way back in the 1990s, climate change had been discussed but nobody seemed to take it seriously. I remembered in my elementary science textbooks about greenhouse effect and global warming – all of it have been discussed throughout the book. In my highschool and college years, climate change became a rampant topic, more than ever, as people began noticing the signs of the changing earth. Noticing, yes, but not making actions on it especially the governments. When the Kyoto Protocol was enacted, not even the United States dared to sign it. I am just wondering that people and governments may notice the changes but turned out to be such a slowpoke in reacting to the changes that we are seeing.
It makes my daunting thoughts and images that I have seen in Roland Emmerich’s film, “The Day After Tomorrow”, seemed to become a very big possibility in the next few decades.
Here in the Philippines, we have seen the onslaught and tragedy caused by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng (international names Ketsana and Parma). This is not entirely new to us. Our country is being visited by 20 storms per year and yet I am wondering why the government is only reacting after the tragedy has struck.
The Philippine government is the finest example of a procrastinating, reactionary and slowpoke government. It will only react once the damage has been done. And to my dismay, some thick faced politicians will take advantage of the tragedy befallen to our fellow countrymen, advertising themselves in the relief goods that they distributed, putting on a good PR image of public servant (kuno) out there to help his needy people.
Pray tell me, not a single one of those thick faced politicians went out during the height of the squall – who tried to initiate rescue missions right away or at least save their neighbor’s pet dog.
Then there’s the pointing fingers festival in the Senate and Congress, point their fingers to somebody who can take the blame about the tragedy when the reality is, the blame ultimately lies on ALL OF US.
Why?
I find both the people and government have their own share of faults here. People are not disciplined enough to throw their garbage in the proper places. Squatters proliferating our poor esteros, polluting them to the extent of becoming hazardous to life. The government procrastinates – it has been unable to stop the unnecessary development in the areas that should not be developed (take for example: the eastern side of Manila. According to an urban study made by Jun Palafox in 1977, the eastern side of Manila, particularly, Marikina should not be developed rapidly because of its vulnerability to floods and its low-lying geography).
Not to mention also are the undying headaches of illegal logging and mining in North Luzon. These are already decade-old issues our government have dearly failed to solve. There are vested interests you know – that’s the thing that keeps those problems from being solved. Still persistent as ever. No matter how many rallies you will conduct against those things, your sentiments will fall only on deaf ears and blind eyes.
Will the Philippines be ready to put a step of action towards climate change? Maybe. The government has the biggest role in putting this step forward. The citizens should also contribute – especially putting the discipline into ourselves. That is why the government is made up of LEADERS – who should be leading the people, not a bunch of slowpokes, reacting only after the damage has been done.
Tingnan nyo, kung kelan may damage na nangyari dahil sa typhoons, ngayon lang nagkaroon ng climate change bill. Kung kailan maraming namatay, saka lang i-check kung may protocol ba talaga sa pag-release ng tubig ng mga dams sa North Luzon. Ang tagal na nating binabagyo, ngayon lang naisipan bumili ng Doppler Radar na kailangan ng PAG-ASA.
But take note, they got the nerve to dine in Le Cirque and travel to and fro in different countries while these concerns should be addressed earlier. They got the nerve to go to Las Vegas and watch Pacquiao’s fight instead of working their assess in the House of Representatives and Senate or at least file the necessary bills and vote for them – example are the bills that will help in counteracting the effects of climate change to the Philippines.
Gawd, somebody should give me Aprovel. Again.
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silver is the blogger behind Dare to Speak Out, a personal and commentary blog.She graduated with a degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. She posts blogs that ranges in different topics – from trivial to the political. She currently works as a freelance writer.
for sure, me drama na namang investigation in aid of legislation yang mga yan.
Panigurado buraotness. Meron na naman tayong telenovela sa Senado at Congress.
Sino kaya ang bida: Si Darna or si Marimar? Baka di kaya si Sergio na?? Heheh.
bottom line it’s GREED, 72 fonts, uber/hyper/extra-large, bold and one that atomically multiplies like gremlins once get wet. with anda.
there are no budgets to [insert the following phrases below]
- solve poverty because the sucked it all up to solve their own poverty level and even the church don’t want to help solving poverty either!
- move infrastructures because their houses went into the stratosphere instead
- solve education because their kids are the ones going to school abroad huh!
and many money money more.
we all borrowed our time in this world. aalis din tayo. we should all re-think on how we use earth. kawawa ang mga anak ninyo.
Alam mo naman sila Reynz, magaling lang sa salita. MGA KULANG NAMAN SA GAWA.
WALANG KWENTA.
Kaya ayaw ko nang bumoto sa election kasi paulit ulit na lang sila.
Naku did you guys hear about HAARP? Read all about it. I am a little skeptic, but with today’s technology, it might not be far from truth. Lumalabas ba ang constipations este conspiracy theorist ko?
Check sa search engine: HAARP.
I’ll make a follow-up post blog about this. If I have the nerve to present it.
binasa ko. leche, natakot ako hahaha
Mahalia,
Familiar ako sa HAARP na yan. Gusto mo blog natin? Hahhaha.
Nakakaloka yan.
huwag natin hayaan ang sarili nating mag isip kung kaninong kasalanan kung bakit tayo nagkakaganito kasi kahit anong paghuhugas kammay natin eh meron at meron tayong kasalanan . maliit man to o malaki, kasalanan pa din toh.
ang kelangan natin ngayon eh mag isip ng paraan, at gumawa ng paraan para makaahon tau sa pagkakalugmok natin.
nagdusa na tayo sa kasalanan natin, umahon naman tayo.
amen clarck. yet, matigas ang ulo nang mga pinoy. so kelangan ang minu-minutong reminder. baka sakaling pumasok sa kukote.
You have a point there clarck. Nasapol mo din.
hay! pangarap na nga lang ata ang word na “ahon”. if only every single filipino will have a bit of discipline in their (our) blood, a little less greed, and respect for everything great or small, then probably we’ll have that word “hope”. ay ambot!
Chi,
Try mo naman yun kay Erap: ANGAT.
Pero try mo din baligtarin ang word na yun. Bwahahahhah.
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i agree with you silver, elementary pa lang tinuturo na yang ozone layer na yan and greehouse cherva kaso HS ko na sya naintindihan haha
scary what’s happening these days nun nag massive blackout after nun Ondoy, walang kuryente sa opis, clinics and malls, pati yun ATM ayaw maglabas ng pera…na-feel ko talaga na malapit na ang end of days
Malen,
Nuod muna tayo ng 2012 bago magkanda-leche leche ang mundo. Hahahha.
Ano ka ba. Wag kang matakot kasi this is just temporary sa ating phase of life. What matters most e yung nasa kabilang side – yung pang eternity.
@ silver di hamak na magkatotoo yung mga fiction movies na napapanood natin. for sure there is a second coming. yun nga lang di natin alam kung kelan…for what i know He will come like a thief in the night. rapture time according to the book of life.
Gentle reader,
Kaya nga. Pwedeng mangyare nga yun. Anyway, prepare na lang tayo ng bangka papuntang afterlife.
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