emi

Nine days after Tropical Storm Ketsana brought the heaviest rainfall in four decades to the Philippines, the true extent of the devastation it has wrought is becoming more evident.  As of Oct. 4, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that the total number of affected persons now stands at close to 3.9 million, and the estimated cost of damages has risen sharply to PhP 8.3 billion (US$ 176 million).  Portions of several cities in Metro Manila, such as Pasig, Taguig and Pateros, are still under several feet of flood waters.  The situation is similar in certain areas in provinces bordering the metropolis such as Rizal, Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan.  The total cost of assistance provided so far by the Philippine government and other organizations amounts to PhP 64 million (US$ 1.4 million).  Several United Nations agencies, the Asian Development Bank, and the governments of the United States, China, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and Taiwan have collectively pledged at least US$ 3.5 million to support relief and recovery efforts.

Even as Metro Manila and adjacent areas struggle to recover from the effects of Ketsana, another weather disturbance is currently wreaking havoc in Northern Philippines.  Typhoon Parma made landfall in Cagayan Province on Oct. 3, packing winds of at least 120 kph (Reuters AlertNet – www.alertnet.org).  Initial damage assessments of the NDCC show that 189,000 persons have been affected in the National Capital Region and 22 other provinces, with 16 individuals reported killed.  Parma’s western track out of the Philippines has been halted by a cold front and it remains almost stationary over the northwestern coast of Luzon Island, raising fears of more flooding and landslides in the affected areas over the next few days.

The disaster spawned by Ketsana has raised the awareness of the general public regarding the vulnerability of particular sections of Metro Manila to natural hazards such as flooding.  It has also generated significant discussions about the inadequacies of current disaster risk management (DRM) and urban planning practices.  The national government is now identifying sites where thousands of informal settlers living along the rivers, creeks and other waterways of Metro Manila can be relocated.  The Secretary of National Defense has also called for the conduct of a new study on urban planning and development in Metro Manila.  Members of Congress have also asked President Arroyo to certify the passage of the DRM Act as urgent, so that the House of Representatives and the Senate can prioritize its approval.  The Act shifts the focus of government efforts from disaster response to preparedness, emergency response and rehabilitation by integrating disaster risk reduction into sustainable development policies and planning, and strengthening institutions, mechanisms and capacities to build resilience to hazards and implementing a systematic incorporation of risk reduction approaches into emergency preparedness, response and recovery programs (Philippine Daily Inquirer – www.inquirer.net).

Related links:

NDCC - Disaster/Incident Monitoring of Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma:

http://210.185.184.53/ndccWeb/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=164&Itemid=221

http://210.185.184.53/ndccWeb/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=167&Itemid=222

Manila Observatory – Interactive Flood Map and Satellite Images of Tropical Storm Ketsana: