Environment expert from Thailand urges gov't to address severe flooding

SINGAPORE – The Philippine government should come up with a long-term and comprehensive water management plan to address severe flooding in the country as a result of climate change, an environmental expert from Thailand said on Wednesday.

Christoph Menke, a professor at the Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi in Bangkok, said the Philippine government should construct more water channels in agricultural areas to prevent flooding in downstream residential areas.

“I assume that the irrigation and water management departments (in the Philippines) will now look and see how they are going to handle this in the future. But the solution will only be a comprehensive plan where you have to grow forest, protect forest, and make more water channels,” Menke told The STAR on the sidelines of the three-day Clean Energy Expo Asia 2011 here.

The Clean Energy Expo Asia 2011, jointly organized by the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) and trade fair company Koelnmesse, concluded yesterday.

The annual event was part of the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) celebration.

“You have to look for areas where water can flow when there is a lot and these areas need to be agricultural land not industrial or housing area. So there are many things to be done to address the changing weather patterns,” Menke said.

“I think it requires budget and strong will of the government to carry it out, because making channels and making changes in land use is something you are not doing overnight,” he added.

Thailand, like the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, experiences severe flooding caused by monsoon-triggered rains. 

The recent flooding in Thai capital Bangkok has affected two million people and left over 400 people dead, including a Filipino teacher.

The Philippine embassy is assisting at least 131 Filipinos affected by the flooding in Thailand.

Menke said there are almost 2,000 water channels in Thailand.

He also warned the public of heavy rains brought by the prevailing La Niña phenomenon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said most parts of the country, particularly the eastern sections, will likely experience “near to above normal” rainfall conditions during the remaining months of 2011 up to the first quarter of 2012 because of La Niña.

Areas that are expected to experience above normal rainfall this November are the Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 1, 2, 6 and Mindoro.

Menke said dam operators in the Philippines should also review the protocols on releasing water, especially during inclement weather.

“I would say that better planning and taking the changing monsoon patterns into consideration is the only way to start earlier the release of the water from the dams. If you can release water earlier, the amount of water you need to release is less,” Menke said.

Most residents in Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and Tarlac reportedly blamed dam managers and local officials for allegedly not giving them enough warning on the large volume of water that would be released from dams at the height of typhoon “Pedring” last September.

President Aquino appointed last month Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson as the government’s water czar to study the country’s water management system because there are several departments and agencies that have jurisdiction over water supply.

A new United Nations report concluded that man-made climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of heat waves, wildfires, floods and cyclones. It also said that such disasters are likely to multiply.

The report said that more heavy rains and snowfalls are expected, especially in the tropics and high latitudes, while droughts are expected to intensify in the regions such as Europe and North America.