Written by: Ananda A.
Visual by: Ela C.
The Philippines is perhaps best known for its many islands and beaches, but climate change could very well change that. According to the 2019 report of the Global Peace Index, the Philippines is the country at the highest risk of climate hazards, which includes flooding and tropical storms. Climate change continues to magnify these issues.
Studies by Greenpeace East Asia found that Manila is one of the many cities facing a heightened threat of flooding due to rising sea levels and tropical storms. The Philippines is one of the nations most susceptible to storms; on average, 8-9 tropical storms hit the Philippines annually, devastating people’s lives as well as causing immense financial damages. Typhoon Bopha is the most expensive storm to have ever hit the Philippines, and the damages and cleanup cost the country around 1 billion dollars. Climate change has intensified these storms, bringing in potential for larger storm surges, increasingly damaging winds, and more extreme rainfall. This climate crisis is an issue that impacts many facets of our lives and the world that we live in. Affected cities face not only economic and infrastructural implications, but also effects on the quality of individual lives, including educational access and opportunities.
Around 60% of the Philippine population resides in low-lying coastal areas exposed to storms and storm surges. Many of the most affected areas are relatively remote; one such community being Sitio Pariahan, a coastal island village. Two decades ago, the island was just like many others. Today, residents require a boat to get around– “without a boat, [one is] paralyzed,” says Mary Jane Martinez, a resident of this village. The village school was destroyed when Typhoon Nesat struck in 2011, and now, children must take a 30 minute boat ride to get to school. Rising sea levels could soon render this village uninhabitable. This issue is faced by numerous countries around the world, and the poorest communities are always hit the hardest. Children living in informal settlements are among the most vulnerable.
Educational quality is also affected by factors such as a child’s access to sanitation, nutrition, and now more than ever, electricity. A Department of Education survey found that 2.8 million students in the Philippines have no online access at all. Only 6.5 million students have access to the internet. However, 20% of those students must be in computer shops or other public locations in order to go online, resulting in less than ideal learning conditions. Although the most urban regions in the Philippines (including the National Capital Region) have achieved more than 90% electrification, the energy access rate in some areas, especially those on the more remote islands, remains significantly below the national average. Additionally, in the rural areas with electricity, access is often limited, providing service only for about 4-6 hours per day.
Before disaster relief programs such as LACS (the Locally Accessible Cloud System), students on islands such as Gilutungan Island had never successfully implemented online learning because of issues with connectivity and a lack of devices; families whose livelihoods depend on activities such as fishing often do not make enough to buy personal devices. However, programs such as LACS have begun to tackle these issues. LACS specializes in setting up networks of connectivity during disasters, and this year it has set up hotspots around Gilutungan Island, allowing students online access. Despite this progress, the lack of experience with technology remains an issue– these unprecedented times provide difficulties in which both teachers and students must learn.
Works Cited:
“2.36 Million Philippine Households without Electricity: Study.” Xinhua, 29 Sept. 2017, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-09/29/c_136648509.htm.
Baclig, Cristina Eloisa. “Climate Crisis to Turn Manila, Other Asian Cities into Bodies of Water.” INQUIRER.net, 1 July 2021, newsinfo.inquirer.net/1453660/climate-crisis-to-turn-manila-other-asian-cities-into-bodies-of-water.
Brown, Sophie. “The Philippines Is the Most Storm-Exposed Country on Earth.” Time, Time, 11 Nov. 2013, world.time.com/2013/11/11/the-philippines-is-the-most-storm-exposed-country-on-earth/.
“Getting a Grip on Climate Change in the Philippines.” World Bank, www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/publication/getting-a-grip-on-climate-change-in-the-philippines.
Institute for Economics & Peace. Global Peace Index 2019: Measuring Peace in a Complex World, Sydney, June 2019, http://visionofhumanity.org/reports
Limpag, Max. “Disaster Response Program Brings Online Education to Island Barangay in Cebu.” Rappler, 1 Mar. 2021, https://www.rappler.com/technology/innovations/gilutungan-island-cebu-lacs-online-education-cvisnet.
Lopez, Eloisa. “Rising Seas Threaten Early End for Sinking Village in Philippines.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 30 Nov. 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-philippines-widerimage/rising-seas-threaten-early-end-for-sinking-village-in-philippines-idUSKBN1Y400C.
Ortega, Javier Bornstein, and Christine Klauth. “Climate Landscape Analysis for Children in the Philippines.” July 2017.
Santos, Ana P. “In the Philippines, Distance Learning Reveals the Digital Divide.” Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, 6 Oct. 2020, https://eu.boell.org/en/2020/10/06/philippines-distance-learning-reveals-digital-divide.
“Sinking Feeling: Philippine Cities Facing 'Slow-Motion Disaster'.” Phys.org, phys.org/news/2019-05-philippine-cities-slow-motion-disaster_1.html.
Comentários