Ten years later, what did we learn?

Kaycee Dionio November 6, 2023

The 21st century stands as a witness to the chilling realities of climate change—severe droughts, intensified storms, rising sea levels, and soaring temperatures, all of which have wreaked havoc on the planet repeatedly and beyond a countable measure.

As a country prone to disasters, the Philippines has long testified to this reality.

As stated by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Philippines' geographical location is the reason that makes it susceptible to tropical cyclones.

Located just north of the equator, the Philippines faces the western Pacific's storms with little to mitigate their impact before they make landfall. These warm equatorial waters spawn approximately 20 typhoons annually.

But is it truly the sole factor behind the intensity of typhoons in the country?

The Toll

On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Yolanda (international codename Haiyan) unleashed its fury upon the Philippines. Yolanda was no ordinary storm; it was a super typhoon with winds roaring at an astonishing 195 miles per hour and a storm surge that swallowed coastal communities.

It was considered the most powerful tropical cyclone ever to make landfall, and as intensely as it made its entrance, it departed and left behind an equal measure of devastation.

Among many regions that suffered, it was Eastern Visayas that bore the brunt of its intensity, with Tacloban City being the hardest hit.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported a tragic death toll of 6,300 individuals, with 5,902 recorded in the Eastern Visayas region alone. Leyte, the epicenter of Yolanda's fury, accounted for 92 percent of these fatalities.

The majority of those killed in Leyte drowned within minutes when a storm surge reaching up to two kilometers inland swamped the area, while in Tacloban, 12,270 structures were destroyed and 46,553 were damaged. Survivors reported seeing vehicles floating and ocean-going cargo being carried onshore, causing major damage to residences and harming many trapped in the flood.

While it is true that the Philippines is geographically located in the typhoon belt, the extent of damage from these storms ultimately hinges on the country's risk management.

The Cause

The Philippines, over the years, has been grappling with a concerning trend of ineffective disaster response and risk reduction strategies. Flooding has become a common sight in many provinces, where even a light rain can trigger a deluge.

After enduring numerous typhoons and other calamities, one thing has remained constant: the nation's ongoing struggle to effectively prepare, respond, and recover from these disasters.

The Philippines possesses abundant natural resources at hand to mitigate the impact of typhoons, only requiring timely management, coordinated evacuation plans, and well-equipped emergency services. However, the Philippines' track record in these domains has been underwhelming.

As Filipinos endure the relentless onslaught of typhoons, they also witness widespread mangrove deforestation, countless infrastructure projects, and the gradual destruction of the Sierra Madre mountain range.

In the past hundred years, the Philippines lost around 75% of its mangrove forests. Panay Island in the Western Visayas used to have more than 12,400 hectares of mangroves, but by 1988, only 300 hectares remained.

As per NASA, mangroves have faced a persistent threat of deforestation over decades, primarily due to factors such as agriculture, aquaculture, palm oil production, urban development, and harvesting. In the past half-century, these pressures have led to the loss of over a quarter of the world's mangrove forests.

Unfortunately, its function as a natural buffer against typhoons and storm surges was compromised by excessive deforestation before Typhoon Yolanda.

More so, the Sierra Madre mountain range, extending for more than 500 kilometers across 10 provinces and safeguarding over 60 protected areas in Luzon, now faces jeopardy due to the Kaliwa Dam project—a China-funded solution that former President Rodrigo Duterte sees fit for the shortage of water supply in Metro Manila.

Large-scale projects like dams don't just alter landscapes; they wreak havoc on nature. They lead to deforestation and disrupt habitats, which impact local ecosystems and contribute to increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, such projects frequently use fossil fuels and materials with high carbon footprints.

Ironically, their approach to addressing the impacts of climate change is to further contribute to the very factors causing the phenomenon.

The Fallout

The tragedy of Yolanda was not confined to statistics; it was about people. Families torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, and communities left to rebuild from the ground up.

Typhoon Yolanda and the devastation of Tacloban City are reminders that the richest reap what the poorest sow. What the wealthiest benefit from is often the result of what the poorest endure.

Big-time emitters of fossil fuels, profit-driven capitalists, and corporations prioritizing development over environmental preservation are central players in driving climate change. Their continuous emissions of greenhouse gasses and exploitation of natural resources hasten global warming and environmental damage.

While they remain in their secure, comfortable homes, unaffected by the repercussions of their doings, the ones least responsible suffer its consequences.

The government has a responsibility to place climate action at the forefront of their agendas. The shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is no longer optional; it's an urgent necessity. There's an immediate need for urban development to incorporate sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

National investments must channel their resources into disaster preparedness and forsake frivolous spending. On a personal level, it's incumbent upon each of us to make conscious efforts—strive to reduce our carbon footprint and make a difference.

The truth is glaring: climate change is not a mere abstract concept; it is an undeniable, chilling reality etched in the tears of Yolanda victims and the destruction of Tacloban City. Unless the conservation of the ecosystem improves and environmental plunder ends, the risk of another Yolanda-like disaster remains a looming threat.