MikeLigalig.com

An Editorial of the Bohol Standard newspaper

Bohol Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera is right: the Nobel prize awarded to former US Vice Pres. Al Gore for his advocacy in calling attention to global warming should help us realize how real is the threat to our shoreline communities.

Herrera, who studied the global warming phenomenon during a study trip to the US, immediately saw the connection and took the occasion to hammer home one of his pet concerns – coastal environmental attention.

“One of the consequences of global warming is the rising of the seawaters,” Herrera pointed out.
That is where the problem lies as far as Bohol ’s fishing villages are concerned. It is not so much a problem about failure (on the part of homeowners and developers to abide by the 20-meter easement zone) and refusal (on the part of the government) to impose the restrictions.

Rather, it is the all too real concern of homes not just slowly but increasingly sinking in rising seawaters but even of people getting swamped and drowning in the rising tide.

Unfortunately, getting these people out of there and moving them to safer places is easier said than done. Even in instances when tidal waves wiped out entire villages as the Indian Ocean tsunami did in 2004, the survivors continued to entertain hopes of returning to their homes.

The problem is more complicated than it appears. To most people living in coastal villages, it is not just a matter of choice but rather of necessity. Living off the ocean being fisherfolks all their lives, they know of no other form of livelihood.

To them, relocation can only mean extinction of a way of life that they are not about to do. It is, pardon the pun, virtually like scooting the fish out of the water. As far as these people are concerned, it is sounding the death knell for them.

And yet, there is no denying that it is a damn-if-do, damn-if-you-don’t situation. These villagers would be gasping for breath if you take them out of their present environment, but to allow them to continue doing so is virtually subjecting them to a clear and present danger from which they might not survive.

Herrera said the issue must be confronted by all stakeholders. That is the best way to do it. It is easier to shepherd a herd of carabaos than to lead one person against his will.

Just because the problem is big doesn’t mean there is no way out of it. The difficult part is how to get all those who have a stake to sit down and think it over.

It’s not too late, but the clock is ticking and time is running out – fast.     

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=5766.0