As the water rises

For the past weeks, the Philippines have been experiencing strange and intense calamities.

On 1 August 2012, a storm surge during the onslaught of Typhoon Gener was experienced along the coasts of Manila Bay. This stretched from Roxas Boulevard in Manila to some towns of Cavite. Roxas Boulevard was left flooded and closed for traffic. Worse, tons of garbage were washed to shore as if the sea was spewing back to us the garbage we improperly threw away.

Photo credits: You Scoop, Jess Castillo

Photo credits: GMA News Online

This brought about discussions from various sectors of the society as to why this came about and how we can resolve our garbage problems. Personally, I was distressed of how nature finally showed us how we are disrespecting her and I was disappointed that despite laws such as Republic Act 9003 or the "Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, Filipinos remain unyielding and uncooperative with regard to proper garbage disposal.

A week after, the Philippines experienced heavy monsoon rains that submerged a large part of Manila and other provinces in Central Luzon under flood. Again, this destroyed many properties, and killed lives. 

An aerial view of Marikina River, spilling over its banks.
Average water height is 20 m for 4 days.
Photo Credits: Department of National Defense

Water-filled Lagusnilad underpass in Manila
Photo Credits: Tina Panganiban-Perez

An aerial view of the province of Bulacan
Photo Credits: Department of National Defense

Waist-deep flood along North Luzon Expressway
Photo Credits: REUTERS

Quezon City, especially Talayan and Tatalon areas were submerged in flood water
Photo Credits Reymund Yu Sio thru Bianca Consunji's article 

I was personally affected as our house was also inundated. This was only the second time we experienced this, after Ondoy. 

Apart from almost two weeks of non-stop raining, I may say that these flooding was brought about by the lack of trees and the improper disposal of garbage. Reports say that most of the water that went to Marikina River came from the mountains of San Mateo, Rizal. Perhaps, the forest lands were cleared because of subdivision developments in this area. Thus, leads me to conclude (based on observation) that zoning in the metro is faulty. Let us take the case of Marikina and Cainta which are valleys. Naturally, it will be a catch basin for water from the mountains.

Of course relief operations are very much laudable, but I hope that the government will come ip with more permanent solutions as regard this matter. Besides, this is not the first time we are confronted with these kind of calamities. I believe that it will take too much work to re-zone Manila, but I hope the government might consider doing it. 

Moreover, I hope each of us will do the little we can to prevent all these from happening. Proper garbage disposal must be observed--everytime, everywhere. If possible, let's all do away with using plastic products that do not decompose and just clog our drainages. Let's also plant trees. I cannot underscore the importance of trees in our ecology--they absorb rain water, produces oxygen (hence, more fresh air) and cools the earth. 

Despite the seeming hopelessness with regard the worsening condition of our environment, I still believe that we can reverse global warming and create a fresher and healthier world. Besides, this is the only home we got. As the water rises each time, let us reflect on what we've done (or not) that contributed to what caused all these calamities. I thinks, Mother Nature is speaking--loudly this time. Let's listen and do something about what's happening.