Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles renewed his call for the passage of a bill that would create a body tasked with conservation and management of the 500-kilometer-long Sierra Madre.
This, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called attention to deforestation in the Sierra Madre, which he saw during an aerial inspection over Marikina and Antipolo to assess damage brought about by typhoon Enteng.
“I hope that the President’s recent statement about Sierra Madre’s deforestation will serve as a nudge in the right direction for us in Congress to prioritize the creation of the Sierra Madre Development Authority (SMDA). This bill is a much-needed intervention as it seems that every typhoon that enters Luzon leaves us reeling and helpless,” Nograles said.
The lawmaker is the author of House Bill No. 1972, which is currently being deliberated at the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization.
“While the SMDA would address the restoration of Sierra Madre’s forest cover and responsible and sustainable development, we must also implement science-based long-term solutions such as a flood control masterplan, better solid waste management and land-use planning, among others.”
Nograles said that the SMDA bill could help parallel efforts towards mitigating the effects of climate change, particularly in preventing flooding and landslides that occur during typhoons.
“While the SMDA would address the restoration of Sierra Madre’s forest cover and responsible and sustainable development, we must also implement science-based long-term solutions such as a flood control masterplan, better solid waste management and land-use planning, among others.”
The solon highlighted the immediacy of implementing solutions to the flood problem, as he cited a study by the Asian Development Bank that showed more Filipinos, particularly the poor, face a higher risk of experiencing floods and dry spells.
According to the ADB’s latest Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific report, 16.1 million Filipinos experienced medium-to-high risk of water stress or experienced frequent droughts or intense flooding.
The report showed that all major parts of the Philippines faced medium-to-high risk of water stress.
The entire Metro Manila was exposed to the risk of water stress, followed by the rest of Luzon (76 percent), Mindanao (75 percent) and the Visayas (71 percent).
Geographic mapping also showed that about two-thirds of the Philippines’ poor communities, which are spread out around the country, are exposed to medium-to-high risk of water stress, the report noted.
“It is the government’s duty to ensure that we protect our fellow Filipinos who are exposed to this danger. Hindi maaaring magpatuloy ang inseguridad at panganib na hinaharap nila kaya’t sa lalong madaling panahon, kailangan nating magpatupad ng mga epektibong solusyon,” said Nograles.
