EDITORIAL - Developing potential areas

Metro Manila and several provinces in Luzon are once again the scenes of destruction and disorder following the onslaught of Typhoon Pedring. The storm, the deadliest since “Ondoy” poured its wrath into the Capital two years ago, turned Manila and nearby provinces into a vast sea, even submerging upland areas.

But even before the victims can recover from “Pedring,” more storms have been forecast to enter the country in the coming weeks. “Quiel” was expected to enter the country yesterday, bringing another destruction and misery to the already inundated areas.

Luzon has become the favorite path of typhoons entering the country. Every year, these storms would always leave a trail of large destruction as they batter many northern provinces.

Even Metro Manila has been threatened. As they stand on the path of the typhoons, Manila’s inhabitants had been witnesses to massive devastation and countless deaths for decades.

Historically, the Capital was formed out of a land reclaimed by the Spanish colonizers who wanted it to be the country’s center of commerce and government. But it seems the sea wanted to take it back.

Since it is below sea level, Metro Manila has been, for years, shrinking at a faster rate because of constant flooding. Soil erosion due to overdevelopment is largely to blame. Experts had predicted that time will come Metro Manila will one day return to the sea.

It’s time for authorities to think. They should consider laying a masterplan that massively develops potential areas such Cebu and Davao. Although Cebu and Davao have experienced rapid economic growth for years, their pace of development is still way below that of Metro Manila.

Cebu, for example, can become the country’s next commercial and industrial center given its large pool of talents and abundant technology. Davao can become the agricultural and mining hub because of its vastness and huge deposits of natural resources.

With Metro Manila being threatened with extinction, the government should better start training its eyes on other potential areas.