Since I was assigned to be the person in charge of texting school announcements to other parents in my son’s class, I’ve been using Twitter more often. I follow his school’s principal who uses his account to announce that classes have been suspended. I also follow the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services (PAGASA) on Twitter (@dost_pagasa). In the absence of an announcement from the school, the PAGASA updates help me answer other parents when they text asking me if classes have been cancelled for the day.
On September 14, 2011, DOST-PAGASA tweeted these:
“Initial report shows a US NOAA Advisory stating that La Nina has reemerged in the tropical Pacific Ocean.”
“The re-emerging La Nina is forecasted to strengthen and continue into winter.”
“If there will not be any change, a La Nina condition in the Pacific Ocean will translate to heavy downpours in Southeast Asia.”
“The re-emerging La Nina now started without an El Nino event.”
“La Nina in the Philippines is usually wet, El Nino is usually dry.”
“September-October 2009 was an El Nino period. Should be dry in PH. However, that was the time that Ondoy and Pepeng hit the country.”
“June to October 2010 was a La Nina period & should be wet in PH. That was the time our dams have their water level at the lowest, no rain.”
“We will monitor this re-emerging La Nina and keep you informed. Your NDRRMC will be prepared for this.”
I loved how PAGASA was able to release information about climate change in a few tweets using 140 characters or less. Unfortunately, even with information as alarming as this, I still do not feel a sense of urgency in the way the government is dealing with threats from the effects of climate change. To date, President Noynoy Aquino has not convened the Climate Change Commission nor approved the country’s National Climate Change Action Plan. We continue to guess what his administration will do to reduce and mitigate the effects of climate change. While he issued Executive Order No. 23 prescribing a logging moratorium, the same order allows the cutting of trees in natural forests for purposes of road clearing by the DPWH and for plantations.
Last week, a mining conference was held in Manila. Rosy pronouncements were made about the billions of dollars that the mining industry would bring to the Philippines. DENR Secretary Ramon Paje and Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa joined the pro-mining chorus. Concerns about the costs of mining to the environment, indigenous peoples, and the health of affected communities were brushed aside. It looks like we will be seeing more forests cut down for mining during President Aquino’s term. We might as well prepare for the floods and landslides that forest degradation and deforestation bring. The reassurance that “Your NDRRMC will be prepared for this” brings no comfort.
When heavy rains pound on my roof at dawn, I worry about sending my son to school. When he was six, he was stuck in traffic for hours because of flooding. He left school at one in the afternoon and got home at past seven in the evening. Unlike older kids in his school bus who had money and were able to buy snacks on the road, my son had no money because of a school policy prohibiting preschool students from bringing cash. He came home tired and starving. I remain traumatized by the experience.
Other countries are teaching their citizens to swim as part of their climate change adaptation strategy. With La Nina upon us, we better teach our children what to do in case they are stuck in floods. My son will probably resent me for treating him like a baby but I will be putting snacks in his bag.
* * *
Email: lkemalilong@yahoo.com