Rains are predicted for the comings days and months, as part of the wet season, and the anticipated typhoon months.
With the coming of the rains and strong winds, are warnings against possible flash floods and landslides.
Many old timers have been commenting that years back, even strong rains did not result in flashfloods. This time, howhever, even slight rainfall does cause flashfloods.
Did you hear those being interviewed on TV as to what they do to prepare for heavy rains and floods? Most of them said: “Kung panahon mo na, talagang hanggang doon ka na lang!” Or “Ipasa Dios na lang naming!”
Right, Filipinos are fatalistic; they risk their lives living under bridges, or along dangerous river banks or esteros. And leave it all to God!
They refuse to do something about their situation, or take responsibility for the consequences of their action.
Or do they realize the pollution and weakening of the structure of bridges could also be due to their constant pounding on the concrete on which to hook their temporary structures? Or that the congestion of riverways is due to the amount of garbage and human refuse they dump into the river?
Right in our City, we have a dumpsite in barangay Candau-ay; you will not miss its location because of the nasty smell even in its environs.
Is it true that this dumpsite was supposed to be closed a few years back? Wasn’t the City government tasked to find another site, or at least use modern methods of managing solid waste? What has been done all this time?
Does our local leadership even feel the need to assure the residents they are implementing measures to address the problem of flash floods? It seems they have to be prodded to address the problem, on two self-evident facts: First, the dumpsite has adversely affected its environs; and second, our sources of water have to be protected.
As to the first point, the adverse effects of the site was reported as early as 2000 thereabouts, wherein it was said that the garbage effluents from the dumping operations were detrimental to the health of the residents, and that the seepage into the water supply was dangerous. It affected the ecological and environmental balance.
As to the second point, it is logical to insist that we should protect our watershed areas.
The most important product of a watershed is water, which is one of the most important necessities of life.
The protection of watersheds ensures an adequate supply of water for future generations, and the control of flashfloods that not only damage property, but also cause the loss of lives.
This is the reason why, as residents, we should take it as our personal responsibility to segregate garbage, minimize the use of plastics, and ensure proper solid waste management. This is the challenge of our times!
