By

JAKE B. BAUTISTA

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AS TRAGEDY(A CLOSER LOOK IN THE PHILIPPINE SETTING)

TRAGEDY

• very sad event: an event in life that evokes feelings of sorrow or grief• disastrous event: a disastrous

circumstance or event, e.g. serious illness, financial ruin, or fatality

DISASTER

• damaging or destructive event: an event that causes serious loss, destruction, hardship, unhappiness, or death

• An environmental disaster is a disaster to the natural environment due to human activity, which distinguishes it from the concept of a natural disaster.

• Environmental disasters can have an effect on agriculture, biodiversity, the economy and human health. The causes include pollution, depletion of natural resources, industrial activity or agriculture.

• The Philippines is prone to natural disasters, particularly typhoons, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis, lying as it does astride the typhoon belt, in the active volcanic region known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” and in the geologically unstable region between the Pacific and Eurasian tectonic plates.

• The Philippines also suffers major human-caused environmental degradation aggravated by a high annual population growth rate, including loss of agricultural lands, deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, improper disposal of solid and toxic wastes, loss of coral reefs, mismanagement and abuse of coastal resources, and overfishing.

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CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE PHILIPPINES

• Recent scientific studies reveal that human activities have contributed significantly to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that causes climate change.

• Scientists warned the Philippines could experience famine by 2020, as the adverse impact of global warming takes its toll on natural resources. Thousands will be displaced from their homes especially in low-lying coastal communities.

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DECLINE OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY

• The Philippines is suffering from degradation of the natural environment. It has fifty major rivers now polluted due to abuse and neglect. Approximately two-thirds of the country's original mangroves have been lost.

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ALARMING WASTE PROBLEM IN THE PHILIPPINES• The Philippines is looming with garbage problems

despite the passage of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or the Republic Act (RA) 9003.

• 2007 first quarter data from the National Solid Waste Management Commission shows that there are 677 open dumpsites, 343 controlled dumps, and 21 landfills in the country. An additional 307 dump sites are subject for closure or rehabilitation plans but without definite schedules for enforcement. About 215 additional landfills are being proposed to be set up nationwide.

PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOR TOWARD WASTE

• Resources, Environment and Economics Center for Studies, Inc.’s (REECS) 2002 study on household waste management systems and the attitudes and behavior of the communities in two barangays in Metro Manila ( Bennagen, Nepomuceno, Covar, 2002) showed that::

• 1. Waste management is still perceived by many as the responsibility of government.2. Public participation in waste management, especially in segregation at source, remains limited.3. More extensive awareness- raising activities and training on ecological waste management are needed, together with stricter enforcement of the Law and local ordinances must be observed.

• 4. There is lack of community empowerment and political will to resolve the problem.

PHILIPPINE DISASTERS

• World's 4th Most Accident-Prone Country

• 313 Disaster Incidents in 2002

• Worst Disaster in History (Payatas Tragedy)

• Worst Sea Accidents (Dona Paz owned by Sulpicio Lines)

• Worst Air Accidents (Airplane from Manila crashed in Samal Island)

• Worst Terrorist Attacks (Abu Sayyaf)

• Worst Fires (Ozone Disco)

• Worst Volcanic Eruptions (1991 Mount Pinatubo)

• Worst Typhoons and Flashfloods (Typhoon Thelma 1991)

• Worst Earthquakes (1990 – 7.7 scale)

• Worst Festival Tragedy (1993 Pagoda Festival in Bocaue)

• Coastal Areas Sinking