NEARLY a year after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered an investigation into corruption-ridden flood control projects, the intensity of floods, storms and storm surges is already projected to worsen due to climate change. The fast-approaching rainy season also threatens to bring about massive, persistent flooding across the country again.
To reduce this impact as well as those of super typhoons and other extreme weather events, the international marine conservation group Oceana has urged Congress to fast-track the passage of the National Coastal Greenbelt Act. During the hearing of the House Committee on Climate Change, it also called for a stand-alone version of the same bill, rather than folding the measure into the proposed Integrated Coastal Management Act.The National Coastal Greenbelt Act would ensure the protection and restoration of mangrove forests nationwide, which “are a science-proven shield for our coastal communities against the damaging impact of the climate crisis,” said Oceana Vice President Von Hernandez. He added that “mangroves can reduce wave heights by up to 75 percent.”As a stand-alone bill, the National Coastal Greenbelt Act would establish clear targets, designate a single lead agency, set firm timelines and secure dedicated funding for mangrove protection. In contrast, an Integrated Coastal Management Act — by design — could be bogged down by the need to satisfy multiple and competing priorities at once, like fisheries, tourism, shipping, reclamation and urban development.“The climate emergency should compel Congress to pass a dedicated, stand-alone greenbelt bill now, one that protects our coastal communities from calamitous storm surges and impacts, and that will not be held hostage by other competing economic and commercial interests,” said Hernandez. “Failure to do this would be criminal, leaving millions of our countrymen vulnerable and defenseless against the catastrophic impacts of climate change.”The Philippines’ mangrove cover is estimated to be around 285,000 to 311,400 hectares in 2020, down from a high of 500,000 hectares in the early part of the 20th century. The country hosts at least 50 percent of the approximately 65 mangrove species found worldwide.“Is the government doing all it can to protect our people and communities from the anticipated impacts of climate change?” asked Hernandez. “The sad answer is no — because instead of ensuring the protection of nature’s most effective defenses against coastal erosion and storm surges, it is allowing the continuing decimation of our mangrove forest.”Hernandez described faulty and irregular flood control projects, breached seawalls and dikes as a massive wastage of public funds that could have otherwise supported children’s education, health subsidies for the poor and environmental resilience.“The fixation on flood control projects has resulted in billions of public money being squandered. On top of that, we’ve seen losses in people’s lives and livelihoods, and damage to property — leaving more communities vulnerable to climate impacts,” Hernandez said.
