Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles on Friday appealed to the Marcos administration to prioritize the aggressive rehabilitation of the country’s watersheds to help prevent flooding.
“Nature is our first line of defense against typhoons. Pero kung patuloy na makakalbo ang mga gubat natin lalo na ang mga watershed, mauulit lamang tuwing bubuhos ang malakas na ulan at bagyo na sasaluhin ng mga nakapalibot na komunidad ang pagbaha,” Nograles said.
The lawmaker renewed his call for the establishment of the Sierra Madre Development Authority, which would be tasked with the conservation and management of the 500-kilometer-long mountain range.
“Even as we are in the midst of assessing the damage wrought by Typhoon Carina, we should start thinking ahead. Nasa pangatlong bagyo pa lang tayo ng 20 bagyo na pumapasok kada taon, hindi pa bilang ang mga ulan na dala ng habagat. We should be seriously alarmed and do something about it,” he added.
The lawmaker renewed his call for the establishment of the Sierra Madre Development Authority, which would be tasked with the conservation and management of the 500-kilometer long mountain range.
The House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization is currently deliberating the said proposal, which was filed by Nograles.
The solon said that the country cannot continue turning a blind eye to what is happening in the mountains.
“May epekto sa atin sa baba ang nangyayari sa taas. Kung kalbo ang bundok, dadausdos pababa ang tubig. We need our mountains and watersheds to shield us and prevent us being exposed to nature’s wrath,” Nograles said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that more than 1.3 million people or close to 300,000 families were affected by the onslaught of typhoons Carina, Butchoy, and the habagat or southwest monsoon.
The reported damage to agriculture reached P9,706,852, while irrigation facilities damage reached P6,560,000. For infrastructure, the reported damage was P1,298,974.
A state of calamity was also declared in various areas, including the whole National Capital Region; Cavite; Pinamalayan and Baco in Oriental Mindoro; San Andres in Romblon; Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental; Kabacan and Pikit in Cotabato, among others.
