Experts: Log ban not enough to stop landslides, floods

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III is considering a total log ban in selected areas following floods and landslides that hit several provinces. But if it were up to climate change experts, a total log ban is not the key to stop landslides.

One of them, Dr. Rosa Perez, said in ANC’s Talkback with Tina Palma on Monday that the abundance of trees alone will not prevent disasters because trees can be washed away by heavy rainfall.

“If we have intense rainfall, the presence of trees will not prevent the landslides. I remember during the occurrence in Infanta, the trees were carried by water downstream, so really it won’t help,” Perez said.

Dr. Fabian Dayrit of the Ateneo de Manila University, and Dr. Kelvin Rodolfo of the Uuniversity of Illinois also noted that past log bans were not successful in saving the environment.

“I’m afraid, if a law is made and not adhered to, it makes the president or the law weaker. If people flount the law, then the legitimacy of government is put into serious question,” Rodolfo said.

“Maraming beses na nga tayo nag-log ban, pero paulit-ulit din naman because we don’t really push it. We don’t have metrics for how successful the log ban is,” Dayrit said.

Rodolfo cited another issue that needs to be tackled in addressing climate change.

“There’s an 800-pound elephant in the room no one wants to talk about: population. One of the reasons why we get more casualties because living space is getting scarce so people build in risk-areas,” he said.

Rodolfo revealed the ground level in some parts of the country is sinking as the water beneath dries up. Water underground is extracted to augment the supply of water for residents.

The sinking grounds in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela are just a few examples.

Disaster officials said the government has already set up new measures to reduce the effects of disasters. They noted that the government has also increased the national calamity fund.

“We are aware of the changing climate and its challenges…In this new law, there’s a shift from preparedness to mitigation and the government has institutionalized the disaster management offices of all LGUs,” Office of Civil Defense (OCD) executive director Ronald Flores said.

Flores said the government will also continue to help local municipalities become aware of the changes in the environment, so that they can adapt to the challenges these changes bring. –Rachel Hermosura, ANC