1A massive rock slide-debris
avalanche occurred on 17 February 2006 in the Philippine province of Southern
Leyte that caused widespread damage and loss of life. The deadly landslide followed a ten-day period
of heavy rains and a minor earthquake (magnitude 2.6 on the Richter
scale). The official
death toll was 1,126. The whole Guinsaugon village in the town of Saint Bernard along with its residents were buried alive.
September 26,
2009, typhoon Ondoy, with an International name of Ketsana, hit the Philippines
with a force known to be the worst typhoon in Philippine history. Many families
were unprepared with the flash floods that came with it. It was recorded that more than 300 people were dead
and nearly P9 billion in total was incurred in damages to agriculture and
infrastructure.
Another
massive typhoon in the name of Sendong, with an international name of Washi,
surpassed the Ondoy typhoon when it made landfall on December 17, 2011. Calamitous
flash floods, focusing mainly in the Mindanao area, resulted in at least 1,268
fatalities. It was cited that the flash floods were caused by illegal logging
and collapsed dams.
What
have caused these tragedies that resulted not only in damage to agriculture and
infrastructure, but to loss of lives even? Was it possible that these could
have been prevented?
Most
causes were blamed to be the people’s wrongdoing to the environment. The most ubiquitous
factors are improper waste disposal, deforestation caused by illegal logging,
poor farming, and poor water management which results to collapsed dams. While
it can be hard to control illegal loggers and make changes to water management
and farming strategies, we can instill in each of us the proper waste
management. Improper waste disposal to the streets clog the water drainage bringing
on floods even with slight rainfall. Since we cannot watch over illegal loggers
over time, we can commit to planting even a single tree to deforested places.
Roots from trees hold soil during rains preventing erosion.
Two
thousand years ago, we were given by the Almighty with a perfect world. But
with the advancement of technology and the increase in population, the
environment suffered. It is high time that each of us should be mindful that
everything has a limit. Floods and landslides are only minor consequences. If
we don’t care for our environment, something even bigger and catastrophic can
happen: global warming. Let us not think solely of ourselves but to future
generations as well. What will be left for our grand children to enjoy if we
have already destroyed it?
Friends
of Environment (www.foenv.com or blogs.foenv.com)
are all those wonderful people who are making an effort to keep the planet
'world' clean in their day to day life. We can indeed make a difference by
our small deeds in caring for and protecting our environment. Let us be one and
act now!
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