Rainy season
PEOPLE living in low-lying and flood-prone communities across impoverished Philippines, particularly the poor, fear the onset of the rainy season in the country.
Of course, this is understandable because many of these low-lying communities are transformed into giant and dirty swimming pools after a brief intense rains.
Since many of the country’s waterways, like rivers, lakes and creeks, are clogged with all kinds of garbage, they easily overflow their banks after a heavy downpour.
And rampaging floodwaters from these heavily-silted waterways inundate surrounding areas, destroying ready-to-harvest crops, such as vegetables, and structures.
The flooding and destruction of crops and infrastructure cannot be ignored by government authorities since the rainy season is expected to last until November.
The dry season in the country is from December to May, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Of course, it is to the credit of government authorities, national and local, for calling on the Filipino people to dispose their wastes, particularly plastic materials, properly.
The government has stated, quite clearly, that it would never allow hard-headed Filipinos to violate the country’s environmental laws, rules and regulations.
Thus, it is urgent on police, local and barangay authorities to strictly implement our environmental laws if we are to stop the illegal disposal of our garbage.
With President Marcos in Malacanang, there should be happy reasons to expect the best in the days ahead as the government addresses the problem of flooding
