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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.

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