Flooding is not uncommon but recent flooding in Philippines and Pakistan has shown that it might intensify in the future. Pakistan recently was hit by a massive flood that has claimed the lives of at least 1400 people. Last year Typhoon Ondoy (International name Ketsana) caused massive flooding that has submerged eighty percent of Metro Manila and killed at least 400 people. It is said the amount of rainfall in the Philippines during Typhoon has been the highest in the last four decades. Asian Leaders easily point the finger to climate change. Of course climate change is a big factor but it is not the only reason. People seem to ignore the fact that human activities are also a factor to the flooding.
Human Activities such as deforestation is one of the reasons why the frequency of flooding increases. A study by Australia’s Charles Darwin University and National University of Singapore stated that 10 percent decrease in forests is the reason why the frequency of floods increase by four to twenty eight percent.
Another factor is Pollution. Millions of homes have been erected along flood plains and water sources. Large amount of garbage are improperly dispose especially in the Metro Manila area. Garbage disposal has been a problem and no concrete solution has been proposed or made in the last few years. The garbage clogged up the sewage and waterways magnifies the flooding.
Waste management has always been a problem in the Philippines. Public officials have always had a problem in finding a suitable place to dump Metro Manila’s garbage. They should look on how to improve waste management. Proper land management is also needed to minimize pollution along flood plains. But the most important thing that they have to monitor is the deforestation. Illegal logging has been a problem for years. They should create strict laws on how to deal with this problem and assign people to management the country’s natural resources properly. Planting one three at a time may seem like a lost cause. But the China reforestation efforts in the 1980s is one the reason why forest cover in Asia is somehow increasing.
