Weatherization and adaptation to climate change Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 06, 2009
(Conclusion)
THE RECENT UNPRECEDENTED flooding raised discussion as to what caused the floods and we blame the garbage, informal settlers, climate change and overpopulation in the National Capital Region or NCR.
One solution made was to relocate some informal settlers along the waterways to Laguna. That is just as well since population density in NCR of 16,000 per square kilometer is double the density of Singapore. Our other Asian neighbors have a much lower population density. Kuala Lumpur has 2,750/sq km, Bangkok 6,450/sq km, Tokyo 4,750/sq km., Hong Kong 7,030/sq km.
Climate change contribution
Furthermore, only 10 percent of our 10 million population in NCR is accommodated daily in the mass transport system or the LRT and MRT. Since the average Filipino is 21 years old (the average French is 37 years old), so much human mobility relies on buses, jeepneys and cars.
The sad result is streets clogged with vehicular traffic and a very high level of carbon emissions.
Manila contributes a lot to climate change.
Luckily, just south of Manila, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) with the second highest population density in the country, has only 600/sq km. North of Manila, Central Luzon with the fourth highest population density has only 400/sq km.
Indeed, what we need is more infrastructure development to entice industry to move to outlying provinces near Manila and good transportation links.
Our healthy human population is definitely a prime resource in this world’s emerging markets.
The Earth’s carrying capacity
What our generation has to control is our tremendous appetite for material goods. It was written that the average woman has, how many pairs of shoes? Imagine the effect on the depletion of our natural resources and on carbon emissions to extract raw materials, manufacture, transport, maintain and dispose these goods. That is what impacts negatively on the carrying capacity of the planet.
There are many suggestions and proposals from the private and public sectors on how to minimize or handle future floods.
A few weeks after Ondoy, residents are thinking what they can do to start going back to their flooded homes. Aside from cleaning and disinfecting their homes, there are some other important considerations that must not be overlooked.
Structural damage
A top priority would be to check the foundation for damages like cracks and uneven settling. Some signs that the foundation has been damaged may be doors that refuse to close properly. It may also be shown by irregular gaps in the window frames and between walls and ceilings.
It is advisable to examine porch roofs and overhangs to be sure they still have all their supports.
For houses with wooden posts or frames, check the connection of the wood post with the concrete pedestal or footing. The traditional way to anchor the post is through a pair of steel brackets embedded in the concrete pedestal with bolts to hold the post in place. This steel bracket must be checked if it is rusty and the wooden posts if they are rotting. You must also check the integrity of floors, doors, staircases and windows.
Wood partitions and ceilings
It is not enough for wooden partitions and ceilings to be cleaned on the surface. Flood waters brought a lot of dirt and bacteria and mud cake, which have accumulated inside the wall panels and above the ceiling, that have to be removed. This may not always be easy to do considering the tight space inside the ceiling or the wall panels. Mold, bacteria and fungi breed in moist surfaces.
It would be best to demolish the ceiling and replace it entirely. Allowing dried mud inside the ceiling or wall panel to remain may jeopardize indoor air quality. Dried mud with all its attendant microorganisms will pollute the indoor air in the house for many years to come.
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