Water crisis looms ahead

We are in for a long and hot summer in the country this year. In fact, we can already start to feel the summer effect as early as now. I’ve mentioned it in previous columns I believe, but climate change is truly affecting the world in more palpable ways these past couple of years – from super storms to the changing of seasons to the unusually high spikes in heat. The world is changing very fast and if we don’t do anything to stop it, we’ll be the ones suffering in the end.

I think more and more people are slowly starting to believe that climate change is really happening and is not some distant scientific theory that will only happen in the distant future. I remember thinking to myself last December that the holidays were not cooler like they normally were in years past. Not that we’d ever really need to bundle up in our country, but at least during Christmas and New Year we’d have the chance to pull on a light sweater or a cardigan. Last year, however, it remained relatively hot and the holidays passed without the usual Christmas chill.

The tiny cool spell we had happened a little later in January and February and not even really in Manila but in places like Baguio and Tagaytay where the weather dipped to the delight of those in the area. But again, this did not last long and the assault of the summer heat came much faster then usual. This alone should scare us because every time the heat of summer arrives the excess usage of natural resources begins. We can’t help it – to battle the heat we use up more energy as well as use up more water in a vain attempt to stay cool.

And though I may touch on it every year, it stays relevant every year that we have to do our part in conserving our resources. This is especially true as each year passes and we have much less to go around and more people to share it with. The combination of over population and the scarcity of resources are really taking its toll on our planet and on all of us. It’s not like in years passed when there was enough energy and water to go around. Now, there are far too many people and far too little resources. Plus the number of people is just growing and growing every day.

I always reiterate the importance of healthcare and education in the country and I do truly believe that the government should focus on these key areas, but they should also not forget proper resource management. And I think that in this aspect, all of us should do our part. We have to use these precious resources wisely and think of the future and not just of our comfort today. What will the point of all our hard work be if we can’t leave a sustainable world for our children?

I think that as summer approaches we need to be more careful when it comes to our energy and water usage. Dry and hot days are approaching and it’s natural that we want to blast the air conditioning all day or take two or three baths to try to keep cool, but while this provides temporary relief, it does nothing to help our shortage. And if we are not more careful we may find that one day we won’t have enough clean water to go around. As the United Nations reminds us “you can survive for a day (or even longer) without food, but not without water.” Water is the basic sustenance of life and in a country as hot as ours we will feel even the slightest shortage of this precious commodity.

So as the hot days of summer come at us at full speed, lets not let the heat get to our heads. Lets all be more cognizant of our water usage and find a way to conserve. The planet (and our children) will thank us for it in the long run.

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Poor Vice President Jejomar Binay must be desperately looking for a way to keep his foothold in the upcoming 2016 elections. Due to graft and corruption cases against him and his family, his once very clear road to the presidency is now looking more and more questionable. He has now said that he wishes that Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas would be his running mate in the upcoming elections. He says its because he wants to showcase a unity of leadership and leave this unification as his legacy. While the words sound good it’s a long shot to say the least.

Personally I wonder about the candidates we’ll have to choose from in the upcoming presidential race. With President Aquino set to exit his time as President we find ourselves not any closer to eradicating the corruption that plagues our government. Who will an appropriate replacement for Malacanang be? So far, I am not too sold on those expressing their interest to run. I truly hope we have a good and honest leader in the running during the 2016 race. The country truly needs to turn things around.