Getting ready for the wet season

STATE weather bureau PAGASA warned of more rains as the country nears the onset of the rainy season. With the rains come flooding. And things are not going to ease immediately due to monsoon rains. Now, more than ever, the need for improved governance and strict law compliance to avert widespread flooding cannot be overemphasized.

We renew our call for the implementation of laws and programs that will help ease flooding in the country. First and foremost, local government units (LGUs) should comply with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003) and also start clearing waterways in their areas.

With climate change in our midst, more frequent typhoons are the new norm. But why do our flooding woes seem to worsen every time? A main reason is the noncompliance with our environmental laws. Only about one-third of all LGUs nationwide are complying with the solid waste management law, while the others have yet to strictly and fully implement segregation of garbage at source, recycling and composting.

LGUs should complement the national government’s campaign to address flooding problems through the clearing of waterways. The Department of Interior and Local Government must also carry out a program to relocate illegal settlers and clear waterways.

What our LGUs and concerned government agencies must do is to strictly implement the solid waste management law; demolish illegal fish pens; undertake massive cleanup of esteros and canals; relocate settlers by the rivers; dredge rivers and other waterways and heavily penalize those who throw waste in rivers and lakes; and enforce an absolute ‘ no tree cutting’ policy in the Sierra Madre and other protected areas.

With or without these heavy rains and disasters, we have incessantly urged and reminded our LGUs and our citizens to work on preventing and mitigating disasters, such as floods, and not merely respond to their onslaught. We must learn from our experiences, practice enhanced disaster preparedness and response, and be proactive in reducing the risk of disasters.

Disaster risk reduction is everybody’s business, and LGUs should lead this effort.