Floods spare no one

The wrath of nature has been unpredictable. Though actually scientifically forecasted after years of debates, destructive rains, typhoons and hurricanes have wreaked havoc in many parts of the globe. Areas that used to be free from these catastrophes are no longer spared from life-threatening inundations and landslides.

Lives are constantly taken. Properties destroyed. Peace of mind ruined. Everyone could become victims regardless of gender, social status or politics. The horrifying effects spread across the board, from the world’s poorest countries, up to the most affluent advanced economies.

As of today, more than 80 reported deaths in Texas due to floods left families in anguish. The river rose up to eight meters and claimed the lives of children encamped near the river and the other residents of the nearby communities as relentless rains poured volumes of water. Countless individuals are still missing amidst the mud and debris left by the flashfloods.

Blame-fixing and finger-pointing commenced, questioning the lack of an effective warning system that would have given ample notice for them to rush to safer grounds. Even the US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem complained that the amount of rains could not be properly estimated. This is the United States. Bedrock of technology and robust disaster preparations. Supposed pre-emptive and safety systems should have worked and saved lives. But they didn’t.

Meanwhile, can emerging economies like ours fully roll out a massive infrastructure that can withstand the constant onslaught of regular typhoons? PAGASA explained that an average of 20 typhoons visit the Philippines each year. Some of them were disastrous, causing the death of hundreds of Filipinos and billions worth of properties and agricultural losses last year alone.

Recently, as a worsening trend, other weather systems also inflicted more deaths and destruction, such as the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and shear lines. These were unheard of before. But now, open fields and communities in Mindanao and the Visayas suffer the same misfortune.

Solutions must be formulated. But even if these are correctly planned and implemented, these will take years, or decades. And billions of financial resources. We have no other option but to pursue steps that will mitigate the deadly impact of natural disasters caused by typhoons and floods.

I already discussed these solutions in my previous columns. And I thank several readers who contributed their insights on how to best confront these common threats to our communities.

Comprehensive and integrated solutions. Each of our 17 major river basins must be protected by a comprehensive and integrated plan. Such will include the construction of well-planned big and “sabo” dams, underground and aboveground catch basins, canal and drainage systems, levy and embankment systems, flood controls and other engineering interventions that are proven effective in other similarly challenged countries such as Japan.

These massive engineering solutions must be complemented by a systematic reforestation program that would ensure that watersheds shall be developed and could absorb the huge volume of downpours. They are also necessary in preventing soil erosion and landslides. As of recent reports in 2022, we only have 7.2 million hectares of forest cover left, compared to the more than 17.8 million hectares in 1934. Trees, thousands of them, must be planted and nurtured if we are to protect the survival of future generation of Filipinos.

Continuous and effective dredging of our river systems must be done. In Japan, for example again, their Bureau of Rivers is in charge of this. This agency conducts dredging and doesn’t allow the uncoordinated contracting of this year-long program that aims to maintain enough carrying capacity of their rivers.

There are those who don’t subscribe to this. They reasonably believe that doing these dredging efforts is an unnecessary drain to our meager financial resources. But on the contrary, as long as this is done trustfully, dredging is an effective scientific tool that helps prevent floods from creeping into the communities.

Discipline is urgently needed. Our people must also share in the burden of creating safe and flood-free communities. Unfortunately, many of our residents use the river and canal systems as their garbage bins. Clogged drainage systems and polluted rivers inevitably result from this reckless abuse. Then during the rainy season, everyone blames the government for the floods. The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is the favorite punching bag. I pity MMDA’s hardworking chairman, Atty. Don Artes, who absorbs all the criticisms.

Ironically, the comprehensive solutions to contain floods due to heavy rains are the same solutions for droughts and El Niño phenomenon. Meaning, the thousands of cubic meters of rainwater that are impounded and harnessed during the rainy season are the same water resources that can be released and utilized during the dry months. Therefore, we can also wisely view the huge expenses incurred as a double purpose program. One to address the floods, and the other for the lack of water.

Yes, floods don’t exempt victims based on age, classes and political circumstances. We must confront this as a country that has grown weary of this perennial menace.

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