So what's gov't doing?

So what’s gov’t doing?
November 28, 2008 02:58:00

Philippine Daily Inquirer

I wonder what the national government is doing in relation to climate change. Many nations are now worried about global warming, but it seems that our national leaders are more concerned with their personal interests. I dread the day when all of us will find ourselves flatfooted, unable to protect our people and our territory from the adverse effects of climate change.

I learned that the sea level in Bangladesh is rising because of global warming and thus the country now faces more—even worse—floods. Scientists report that global sea level is rising by 3 mm (about 1/8 inch) per year. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates 18-59 centimeters of sea level rise. What about in our country? What is our sea level now? What are our responses to climate change?
Allow me to quote findings sourced from the “Windows to the Universe” of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (Michigan): “How does global warming cause sea level to rise? There are two reasons: First, when climate warms, water that is on land in glaciers and ice sheets melts and makes its way down rivers to the ocean. Second, as seawater warms, the water molecules move further apart which makes the water take up more space. Scientists suspect that more than half of sea level rise today is due to warmed and expanded sea water.”

Because of climate change, some coastal areas in the country are vulnerable. These include my own hometown of Aparri. The shoreline in Aparri has already retreated by no less than a hundred meters and its protective structures are almost breached. People living in coastal towns are anxious that the sea water has already reached their homes. Some people in coastal villages have already moved their residences inland because of the rising sea level.

If only the money used in the fertilizer scam, or by the euro generals, or to pay kickbacks, among others, had been spent for scientific research and study on how to protect our people from climate change or for other honest-to-goodness social services, the Philippines would be in a better shape.

REGINALD B. TAMAYO, member, Sangguniang Bayan [Provincial Board]; secretary general, SAVE Cagayan, Aparri, Cagayan