Revenge of Nature

Last September 26, 2009, I recall my first experience in removing lots of water in our house because of flood. It was a tropical storm ONDOY that left 80% of the city underwater, dozens dead and hundreds of thousands of people displaced.  Although it was 4 years ago already, it leaves me and my father a mark that we should protect and care our environment for our own good also. 

After that, I realized that still more people take advantage of what nature can give them but they don't care to protect it much. The condition of our environment is becoming worse and worse. People produce a lot of pollution and wastes that destroy our natural environment. Many of us do not imagine what nature can do to us. The survival of all living things and the well-being of all communities depends on the conservation of our natural environment. The most common environmental problem that we encounter are floods.

According to PAGASA, flood is a natural hydrological phenomenon. Floods make an enormous impact on the environment and society. Floods destroy drainage systems in cities, causing raw sewage to spill out into bodies of water. But, what are the causes of this environmental problem??

Some causes why flood happens were because the rains and the typhoons that bring them have increased in magnitude. We all know that Philippines is like a road that passes through by the typhoons, so every year there are minimum of 20 typhoons that enter in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). It also floods because the rain comes down from removed uplands. It is because we have lost almost all of our original forest cover from illegal logging. 

Also, it floods because many of those esteros, canals and waterways of our metropolis we have left are chock-full of informal settlers. There are many informal settlers because of poverty in life. Since before, many of our citizens were not able to go in school to study. Another reason why flood occurs is that the main flood control system started in the 70’s was never completed because of lack of funds by the government.

Illegal Logging are somehow one of the cause why overflow of water pass through our houses. Because of the gradual vanish of our trees in forest, we are experiencing this kind of environmental problem.

The most reason why we experience flood is ineffective drainage. The urban development is unplanned and unfettered. But why does drainage becomes ineffective, yet it was given a fund by the local government? Probably, most drainage systems in the country cannot handle the amount of water because they are blocked due to the trashes of people throw on sidewalks. Also, the Metro Manila Development Authority is unable to cope with the tons of trash being disposed daily. But then again, why do people throw trashes on sidewalks if there is a right trashcan? May be some people say that there’s no near trashcan in their place so, they will throw it somewhere. Nonetheless, why do people find a trashcan to throw their waste in the right place? I notice most people are lazy and inconsiderate in their own actions especially the children. Nevertheless, why does people are being lazy and inconsiderate in their actions, yet it is for their own good? Most likely, people are lazy because they don’t want to take responsibility, and they feel that it is just a waste of time and effort.But why does people hate responsibility, yet it is a sense of accomplishment and leaving dependency. Perhaps, most people still want to be dependent in their elder love ones or most probably the things they want to do are limited once they commit responsibility.

Most likely, this is the root cause why does floods happen in our community. People avoid responsibility because they are lethargic to their own abilities and skills. Don’t be afraid to take responsibility because it will help you to be independent and mature enough to take decisions that you will encounter in the future.

Let us protect our natural environment because what we make to it will come back to us whether it is good or bad.

Now, can you give your own causes why flood happens in community? Are you able to give its root cause analysis?