Environmental degradation...blamed for massive flooding

[GLT]

Environmental degradation, climate change blamed for massive flooding
By ELLALYN B. DE VERA
September 28, 2009, 6:12pm

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) blamed on
Monday the massive flooding caused by tropical storm “Ondoy” to
environmental degradation and climate change.

“The DENR takes note of these tragic consequences of environmental
degradation and climate change which is the cause of all these
problems,” DENR Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. said.

“Nature is getting back at us in a very violent manner because of our
neglect, abuse, and inability to protect the environment,” he added.

According to World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF) Chief
Executive Officer and Vice Chairman Lory Tan, “Ondoy” taught Metro
Manila a painful and very expensive lesson on climate change.

“With climate change, no one is ever exempt. Its impacts are dynamic
and non-linear. Coastal zones and flood prone areas along river banks
and lake shores will of course get hit,” Tan said.

“But less vulnerable areas and sectors are affected as well, because
the impact of an extreme weather event spill over into transportation,
infrastructure, power, telecommunications, health, food security,
water - all leading to internal displacement and marginalization of
hundreds, even thousands, of people,” he added.

In a bid to remedy the flood problem, the DENR said it will prohibit
the restoration of 60 percent of damaged fish structures in Laguna de
Bay to prevent the clogging of waterways, especially during typhoons.

Atienza said he has already sought the help of the Laguna Lake
Development Authority (LLDA) to disallow the re-establishment of
illegal fish pens and fish cages that were damaged due to tropical
storm “Ondoy.”

He said LLDA General Manager Edgardo Manda has vowed to reject the
application for clearance to repair destroyed fish structures along
the lake.

“The structures on the lake and the water lilies obstructed the free
flow of water to the China Sea; instead it flowed to nearby
communities. The Laguna de Bay, Pasig River, and Manila Bay weren’t
able to absorb the huge volume of rainfall,” Atienza said.

He explained that clearing the Bay of illegal fish structures will
allow the lake to function as a catch basin of water coming from the
mountain.

The DENR chief also noted tons of garbage that blocked the drainage
lines during the onslaught of “Ondoy.”

He urged the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) to
accelerate the compliance of local government units (LGUs) to Republic
Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Atienza also committed himself to the full restoration of the Manila
Bay, noting its interconnection with the Laguna de Bay and Pasig River.